So How Would It Really Feel To See Luis Suarez Leave Liverpool?

 With all the quotes attributed to Luis Suarez over the last couple of days it’s looking increasingly likely he’ll be heading out of Anfield and into the Bernabeau this summer. I’m not happy he’s leaving and I can’t say I’m overly gutted either, I’m finding it hard to feel anything either way over the probable transfer.

 Liverpool have released a short statement saying Suarez is not for sale and neither the player nor his agent have contacted them about him seeking a move. Statements like this are normal in this sort of circumstance and 99% of the time the player still gets his move so I'm not expecting the club's desire to keep our number seven to win out. If we're lucky it may add a couple of million on to the transfer fee we receive. To those saying Suarez making public his desire to leave weakens our negotiating position I disagree. If he wants to leave his agent would make potential buying clubs well aware of this so just because it's now public knowledge I doubt Real Madrid know something they didn't yesterday.

 As a club and as a set of fans Liverpool could not have shown the Uruguayan any more support than they have done, but if he doesn’t feel comfortable in Britain then what can we do about it? Yes, his problems are largely of his own making, but that doesn’t mean any human wouldn’t be tempted when offered a very attractive way out. If you had caused yourself issues in your own workplace and were offered a better paid job in a sunnier climate would you take it or would you show your bosses loyalty? The fact that Real Madrid are challenging for the league title and the Champions League would be very hard for Suarez to ignore.

 Steven Gerrard is a top player but he’s not the force he was a few years back, Coutinho has genuine potential but the fact remains that Suarez is currently our only world class player, and nobody wants to lose someone like him. Any Liverpool fan who says they’re happy he’s going obviously isn’t bothered about us improving our league position.

 Comparisons are already being made between Suarez’ imminent departure and Fernando Torres leaving us a few years ago, the majority feeling Torres walking away hurt more. In my opinion it probably did, but not because our affection for the player was any stronger. Choosing Chelsea over Liverpool was a clear sign that the newly rich London club are a better prospect than us, something that’s not easy to stomach. The fact that a South American fancies Real Madrid more than he fancies Liverpool isn’t really a big deal and I’ll accept it, though in a perfect world it wouldn’t be true.

 I have a feeling that if we’d qualified for next season’s Champions League Suarez might have chosen to stay, but we didn’t so we’ll never know. It would be nice if he’d come out and say he wants to play in the Champions League rather than blaming the media but he’s not the first and won’t be the last player to avoid the honest truth when seeking a move. Real Madrid are one of the biggest and most prestigious clubs in world football and it would be quite easy to say 'I'd love to stay at Liverpool and be part of their future but from a footballing and a financial perspective this move was just too good to turn down'. I don't think there is any real need for Suarez to blame the British media for his exit, even though I'm sure they have certainly helped speed up his departure.

 I don't believe it was particularly the reaction to Suarez biting Branislav Ivanovic that bothered him, he was clearly in the wrong and apologised for his behaviour and subsequently accepted his suspension that most judged to be at least a little harsh for the actual offence. I think it was the reaction to the incident at Mansfield that really hurt the Uruguayan. The ball ricocheted upwards and hit his hand, and he then put the ball into the net. To any seasoned football observer it was quite clearly unintentional but large sections of the media reported that he had basically ruined the entire FA Cup competition. He seemed to be made into the poster boy for all that is wrong in football on the back of an accidental collision between the ball and his hand. This was where the press had the opportunity to report the facts rather than aim more arrows at an easy target and we all know which path the majority of them took.

 There is something a bit off if Suarez leaves Liverpool of his own desire, after all the controversy he has caused the club it seems that it should be them who tell him it's time to go, not the other way around. Liverpool supporters and management rallied around Suarez after he bit Ivanovic when they had the chance to condemn him. To allow everybody to come out so strongly and publicly on his side when he probably already knew he wanted to go isn't classy behaviour.

 For his ability on the pitch Suarez deserves to be playing in the Champions League and challenging for titles. If one game summed up his time at Liverpool for me it was when Newcastle visited Anfield earlier this season. Suarez scored probably the goal of the season, ridiculously controlling a long ball from Jose Enrique before rounding the keeper and slotting calmly into the net. But the team didn't win, a fixture we were strong favourites to take all three points from ended in a 1-1 draw despite our main striker's man of the match performance.

 If, as now looks virtually certain, he moves on this summer I hope the money we receive is invested wisely in new attacking talent. If he goes to Real Madrid then good luck to him, and good luck to Liverpool too, I think all parties involved may need it.