Luis Suarez has revealed that Real Madrid wanted to sign him as a replacement for Karim Benzema in 2014, with the France forward being heavily linked with Arsenal at the time.
Suarez was plying his trade at Liverpool in 2014 and was coming off the back of European Golden Shoe and PFA Players’ Player of the Year campaign in which he bagged a thoroughly impressive 31 goals in 33 Premier League appearances.
The striker was expected to leave Anfield following that stunning season in front of goal, with Barcelona eventually securing his signature for a reported £65m fee. Suarez would continue his fine goalscoring form at Camp Nou, scoring 198 goals in all competitions and winning the 2014/15 UEFA Champions League as part of the famed MSN attacking trio alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar.
Speaking in an interview with DelSol 10 years removed from his transfer to Barca, Suarez has revealed how his career could’ve went in a very different direction. The now-Inter Miami forward admitted that Real Madrid had also retained a serious interest in his services heading into the summer of 2014, viewing him as a potential replacement for the seemingly Arsenal-bound Benzema.
“Before the 2014 World Cup, Real Madrid wanted me as they wanted to sell Benzema to Arsenal. Barcelona at the time was [also] interested and Luis Enrique was pressing,” admitted Suarez.
Suarez went on to reveal that the incident in which he disgracefully bit Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini – which he received a four month ban from football for – led to Madrid dropping out of the running, thus leading to his move to Barca.
“The bite case happened and Barcelona continued to want to sign me despite the punishment. I will always be grateful for that,” he continued.
The decision not to sign Suarez and keep hold of Benzema ultimately proved to be a good one by Real Madrid too. Benzema went on to win a Ballon d’Or and a whopping five UEFA Champions Leagues during his legendary career at the Santiago Bernabeu.
