Football: Luis Suarez reiterates desire for move to Real Madrid

MADRID (AFP) - Liverpool striker Luis Suarez's open courting of Spanish giants Real Madrid to make a bid for him continued on Saturday, as he once again said he would find it hard to turn down an offer if they came knocking in the next few months.

The 26-year-old Uruguayan signed a contract last August, tying him to the English Premier League club until 2018, but he has endured another controversial season in England and ended the campaign serving a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

"I think every player aspires to be at the top and if you ask any eight-year-old child they will tell you that one day they would want to go to Real Madrid or Barcelona. They are big teams and everyone wants to go there," he told Spanish sports daily Marca on Saturday.

"Firstly, I have a contract with the club. But if one day they wanted to sign me, Liverpool would listen to the offer, as they have with other players and as all clubs do.

"Then the teams would have to come to an agreement, although, of course, the word of the player, in this case mine, is important. If one needs a change, they have to listen to the player."

Suarez was one of the Premier League's stand-out players last season with 23 goals and five assists in just 33 appearances.

However, Suarez was also banned for eight matches two seasons ago for using racist language towards Manchester United defender Patrice Evra, and he repeated his belief that the English press have gone overboard in criticising some of his on-field antics.

He said: "Simply (I want) the people to not remember me for this, that they don't attack me as a person for this. I prefer footballing, technical criticism than for the attitudes I have had once in a while. This is what distresses me currently in the Premier League.

"The love that I have for Liverpool I will never forget. I love the city, the club and the fans. They have received my family very warmly. We are all happy there. I don't have to say or demonstrate it. They all love me there, but I ask for respect for what they have suffered due to what has been said, because my family suffer at hearing these things that are far removed from football."

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