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Man Utd v Liverpool: Luis Suarez 'could be driven out of England'

By David OrnsteinBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments1294

'Victimisation' could drive Suarez away

Luis Suarez could quit English football if he continues to be "victimised", says former Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli.

The Reds striker has been involved in a number of controversies since joining from Ajax in 2011.

"It'll be an absolute shame for English football if this victimisation drives him away," Comolli told BBC Sport.

"As the biggest league in the world you want to keep the biggest players, not drive them away for crazy reasons."

Liverpool signed Suarez for a then club record £22.7m and the Uruguay international has scored 40 goals in 80 appearances.

But there have also been a number of unsavoury incidents, most notably the confrontation with Manchester United defender Patrice Evra that led to Suarez being handed an for racial abuse.

The 25-year-old has been and had a and his winning goal in was helped by the ball touching his hand.

Comolli was responsible for bringing Suarez to Anfield and believes the public and media should focus their attention on his talent.

"I find it extremely hard to understand why people look at all the bad aspects and not how good the player is," said the 40-year-old, who was in April 2012.

"He is a fantastic individual and professional - totally committed to his club, team-mates and job. He'll give you everything, he's a winner.

Fowler predicts Suarez winner

"People need to be very careful what they say and stop criticising him. He's someone you'd want to go to war alongside. I don't think you can captain Ajax as a foreigner at 21 years of age if you're not a great individual."

Liverpool are eighth in the Premier League, seven points off the top four and 21 behind leaders United ahead of Sunday's trip to Old Trafford.

Much of the current squad was recruited by Comolli in a 17-month spell at Anfield that saw nine players arrive at a reported cost of £113m.external-link

The decision to sell Fernando Torres in January 2011 for £50m and replace him with Andy Carroll, 24, for £35m has been questioned; as have the summer 2011 signings of Stewart Downing, 28, Jordan Henderson, 22, and Charlie Adam, 27.

Liverpool went on to and but American owners Fenway Sports Group decided to relieve Comolli of his duties and as manager a month later.

"I don't have any regrets about players we brought in and I'm sure Kenny is the same," explained the ex-Arsenal scout and Tottenham sporting director.

"You cannot buy young players and not be able to wait for their talent to develop. We brought in very good players.

there were no new recruits in the team. Jordan got a standing ovation, Stewart has been playing every game. You need to give players time. They will develop and become very good players."

Dalglish was and the new boss sanctioned on a season-long loan.

"I don't know what plans they have for him but will he become a very, very good player? I have no doubt about it," Comolli added.

"If you look at the stats throughout Europe, usually target men peak when they are 26-27. Andy is only 23-24. There is a lot more to come from him. and if Kenny and I were still at Liverpool, Andy would still be there."

You can hear more from Comolli on BBC Radio 5 live from 13:00 GMT on Sunday and from 19:00 GMT on Monday.

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1294 comments

  • Comment posted by U14070025, at 14:51 11 Jan 2013

    I'd like John Terry to leave too.

  • Comment posted by Glad All Over - CPFC, at 14:29 11 Jan 2013

    He is not a 'victim' in any sense of the word. The controversies are mostly brought on by his own behavior. And I am glad that these incidents of diving, racism are discouraged.I do believe that his incidents are spoken about at greater length than others who dive and cheat. Everyone should be given the same level of abuse that Suarez does, to eradicate every type of behavior.

  • Comment posted by U6777023, at 14:33 11 Jan 2013

    Ronaldo got slated for every little thing, he got on with it.
    Drogba got slated for every little thing, he got on with it.
    Suarez should, and will, do the same. Non issue

  • Comment posted by Letthemeatcake, at 15:00 11 Jan 2013

    A talented but unfortunately unsportsmanlike player. He may see it as his job to extract maximum opportunity to gain an advantage, but most of us call what he does cheating. I don't want him to leave, but maybe if he stopped cheating the pressure would ease. His choice - not our problem!

  • Comment posted by Sons Of Albion, at 14:41 11 Jan 2013

    He's not 'victimised' he cheats,habitually. He's a very good player,reads the game well,good finisher,mobile, etc,he's lots to offer BUT he regards conning officials in the heat of the moment as 'acceptable' and maybe in his homeland it is acceptable but not here. He's not alone in having this 'attitude' but he is a high profile player at at high profile club.Criticism is inevitable and justified.

  • Comment posted by U15059924, at 15:19 11 Jan 2013

    I couldn't care less if he is driven out. Bye.

  • Comment posted by Acetaline, at 15:00 11 Jan 2013

    This is hilarious. Comolli seems to be endorsing his mental fortitude, talking about how tough it is to captain Ajax as a foreigner... yet understandable criticism for 'crazy reasons' (racism, being magnetically attached by his chest to the grass) will apparently 'drive him out'. About as tough as an Andrex puppy. Earning £6m a year you have to take rough with the smooth, man up!

  • Comment posted by Alex, at 17:06 11 Jan 2013

    Suddenly everyone's concerned about the morals of footballers. I'm sure wanting one of the best players in the league to leave has nothing to do with the fact that he plays for a team you don't support. Id like Rooney gone because of the various elbows and kicks he's thrown out to opposition players, oh and he plays for a team I don't like. Not gonna happen though, such is life.

  • Comment posted by comeonyoublues, at 14:46 11 Jan 2013

    108 If Bale or Scholes did that consistently, then stamped on a few players to try and get them out of the game, maybe throw in a racist comment, some handballs.. Then yeah I would dislike him as much as Suarez.. As it is a couple of dives is nothing compared to the relentless tide of poor practice from your player. You defend the indefensible and its sad that you have to.
    118: Pure delusion

  • Comment posted by nj2810, at 14:45 11 Jan 2013

    So where will he go not to be 'victimised' he was despised in Holland for his cheating as well! (and of course the World Cup - serial cheat, handball in the penalty box a speciality)

  • Comment posted by U15570521, at 19:14 11 Jan 2013

    I'd love to see what would of happened if the Suarez- Evra case was taken to a proper court. Not just looked at by the FA who prosecute anyone with the tiniest of evidence.

  • Comment posted by GoFigure, at 17:29 11 Jan 2013

    652. Bjorntorekvarme-leg-end

    I'm pretty confident you have a very sound point about distinguishing between a racist person and a racist act/comment.

    Trying to nail it down in 400 characters is going to be pretty difficult though, good luck with that.

    As for Suarez definitely some objectionable behaviour but he's an outstanding talent. The PL is better with him in it.

    (Man Utd fan here btw)

  • Comment posted by hammerman, at 15:03 11 Jan 2013

    The last retort of a bully...they were picking on me. Poor lamb. And to claim it was a cultural issue.... given he played in Holland as Captain he was fully aware of what is and isn't racist.

    No-one would miss him at all, except a few myopic Liverpool fans...

  • Comment posted by U15245245, at 15:02 11 Jan 2013

    This is the same player who bit an opponent's shoulder, racially abused Evra and dives week in week out to win free kicks and penalty kicks. I'd rather have Downing in my team than a diving cheat. No wonder he was nicknamed the Cannibal of Ajax!

  • Comment posted by Maxtor, at 14:31 11 Jan 2013

    So we should ignore his diving and hand balls then?. We are the best league in the world because the world loves our style of play and our fair play system.

    Suarez had the same problems in Holland. Maybe instead of trying to protect him, Liverpool should have afew strong words with him. There is no one bigger than the club but seems like Liverpool FC have made Suarez an exception to that rule.

  • Comment posted by U15494538, at 15:28 11 Jan 2013

    Yes he's brilliant, but he is also a cheat. We need to get rid of players like him, there is no place for cheats in our game.

  • Comment posted by Larry, at 14:40 11 Jan 2013

    Drive him out - I'll pay for the cab............sick to death of these so called sportsman behaving like brats, and then you get some idiot saying "be careful" of what "we" say - you can forget it. When Suarez and the like show a smidgen of sportsmanship, then maybe, just maybe, I might be careful what I/we say.

  • Comment posted by U13960441, at 14:15 11 Jan 2013

    He can be a t**t at times but most of it is just unfairly singling him out. Going down too easy, trying to deceive ref to give decisions which you perfectly well know are wrong, getting into confrontations with opponents, all of these are widespread problems in English football and it happens most every week, but no one says a word unless it's Suarez. I hope he stays and I'm a United fan

  • Comment posted by U15554806, at 22:05 11 Jan 2013

    The BBC are really still putting articles about this up. Who cares any more, oh wait just the 1150 haters.
    @RonaldoReds that is the most ironic comment I've ever seen, you call suarez a racist then you call Uruguay a name I won't repeat. Then you talk about pool fans being obsessed with the past and your name is Ronaldo reds WTH!!!

  • Comment posted by X RAY, at 18:18 11 Jan 2013

    IT'S FRIDAY, LETS ALL GO TO THE PUB!!!!

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