Luis Suarez might not be the most loved man in the English Premier League, but to Liverpool he is near priceless; and that was affirmed with the Uruguayan international penning a new long-term contract with the Anfield club.
Suarez, roundly booed every time he steps onto a pitch outside Anfield, was recently linked with a move to Juventus, with the Italian champions reportedly looking him to partner him with Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie. However, Brendan Rodgers had stressed the importance of keeping Suarez and the rest of the big-name players at the club, right after he took over, and the former Swansea manager seems to have got his wish.
"To sign a new contract with Liverpool is unbelievable for me because I am so happy here at both the club and also in the city," Suarez, who has scored 21 goals in 52 matches for Liverpool, told the club's official website.
"That is important for me and I am very happy with my new contract.
"When you are a kid, everybody wants to play for Liverpool. I am here now and it is a dream for me, and now I am a Liverpool fan.
"I am happy off the pitch because the people of Liverpool are good with me and my family. I try my best on the pitch and when you are happy off the pitch, you are happy on the pitch.
"I want to say thank you to the fans because they are our 12th player. The supporters of Liverpool are unbelievable.
"Five or six years ago I watched on TV the stadium and the club, and now I play here and the supporters have helped me. That's very important for me."
Rodgers said he was happy to have the opportunity to work with a "world class" player. "When you have the opportunity to work with world-class players it's fantastic," the manager said.
"There were certainly a few clubs which were interested in him, but over the off-season he and I communicated well and he's committed himself for the long term here now.
"He's really looking forward to playing in this way of working.
"As a manager and for the supporters, I'm delighted because I know how important he is for them."
