Barcelona add teeth to attack

Suarez will work under Luis Enrique, who took over from Gerardo Martino as coach at the end of last season.

The Catalan club will bolster their attack by signing Suarez on a five-year contract for a transfer fee that media reports put at 81 million euros ($111 million). (Source: Reuters)

Barcelona who already have Lionel Messi and Neymar up front, will boast an even more fearsome strike force next season after agreeing to buy disgraced Uruguayan Luis Suarez from Liverpool Friday. After enduring a first campaign without major silverware in six years, the Catalan club will bolster their attack by signing Suarez on a five-year contract for a transfer fee that media reports put at 81 million euros ($111 million).

If the price is confirmed, it would be the third most expensive deal in soccer history after Barca’s arch rivals Real Madrid paid 100 million euros for Gareth Bale and 94 million for Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Suarez will travel to Barcelona next week for a medical and sign a contract for the next five seasons,” Barca said on their website (www.fcbarcelona.es). Suarez, 27, EPL’s top scorer last season with 31 goals, will not be able to play for his new team until the end of October. He was expelled from the World Cup in Brazil last month and given a nine-match international ban as well as a four-month suspension from any soccer-related activities for biting Giorgio Chiellini.

After initially denying he bit the Italy defender, the Uruguay international later issued a carefully-worded statement admitting his offence, the third time he has bitten an opponent during a match, and vowed there would be no repeat.

Suarez will work under Luis Enrique, who took over from Gerardo Martino as coach at the end of last season. While Barca look to have completed their forward line-up, they are still looking for at least one centre back to shore up a defence that woefully underperformed last term.

Suarez said he was leaving Liverpool “with a heavy heart”, but added that moving to Spain had been “a lifelong dream and ambition”. “Both me and my family have fallen in love with this club and with the city,” he said.

“This club did all they could to get me to stay but playing and living in Spain, where my wife’s family live, is a lifelong dream and ambition. I believe now the timing is right. “I wish (manager) Brendan Rodgers and the team well for the future,” Suarez added.