Luis Suarez was keen on a move to Arsenal in 2013 under fire Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has claimed.
Arsenal launched a £40,000,001 bid for the Uruguay international in 2013, which they thought would trigger his release clause as he entered what proved to be his final season for Liverpool.
The Reds remained steadfast in their bid to keep Suarez, with Liverpool not willing to sell him to a Premier League rival, before the striker moved to Barcelona in 2014, where he has enjoyed monumental success.
Wenger, though, believes Suarez coveted a move to the Emirates Stadium in the summer of 2013.
“He was very close [to signing for Arsenal],” he told beIN Sports. “We had an agreement with the player. We had been wrongly advised that he had a clause, with a minimal clause, but we had an agreement with the player. You can ask him.
“I’m convinced he wanted to join us and then they sold him. They kept him one more year, improved his contract and promised to sell him the year later to a club abroad.”
Suarez has once more thrived for Barcelona, with his 22 goals bettered only by teammate Lionel Messi (25) in La Liga this season.
For more stats on Luis Suarez, click here to view his WhoScored player page
