Luis Suárez signs long-term deal to stay at Liverpool until 2018 (UK Guardian)• Uruguay striker to be paid £200,000 a week
• 'I can achieve the ambitions of winning trophies here'Andy Hunter
Friday 20 December 2013 08.42 EST
Luis Suárez puts pen to paper on his new four-and-a-half-year contract at Melwood training ground.
Photograph: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesLuis Suárez said his intention is to stay with Liverpool "for a long time" after extending his contract until 2018 and becoming the highest-paid player in the club's history.
The Uruguay international signed a four-and-a-half year deal on Friday after swift negotiations between Liverpool's managing director, Ian Ayre, and Suárez's agent, Pere Guardiola, in Barcelona this week. Suárez's salary will rise from £120,000 to £200,000 a week, reflecting his status as the leading goalscorer in the Premier League, and there are bonuses for goals scored and Champions League qualification.
Liverpool have refused to confirm if there is a get-out clause in the new contract, although Anfield officials had been keen to remove a £40m valuation on a striker they rate in the Gareth Bale £86m price-bracket. They also wanted to ensure he cannot sign for another English club without their consent.
On Guardiola's part, there had been a desire to obtain a watertight agreement that Suárez could leave should Liverpool again fail to qualify for the Champions League. Both parties accepted the need to avoid a repeat of last summer's transfer saga, when confusion reigned in the player's camp over whether he could leave after Arsenal bid £40,000,001 and he publicly accused the manager, Brendan Rodgers, of breaking promises over his future.
Liverpool moved swiftly to secure Suárez's services with the striker in stunning form, his club able to go top of the Premier League with victory over Cardiff City on Saturday, and with Rodgers insisting the player was in the "happiest point" of his professional career. The striker, who had two-and-a-half years remaining on his previous contract, claimed he will honour his long-term commitment to Liverpool.
"It's nice because when you extend your contract, you extend it because you want to stay here for the future," said the 26-year-old. "I signed not only for two-and-a-half more years, but I signed for a long time to stay here and I am so happy. When you are happy, you try everything for the best for the future. I spoke a lot with my family because my family are very important to me and they are happy here. We spoke over the last few weeks with the club and everything is OK. I don't have a problem; the club don't have a problem, so it's very good."
Suárez has scored a remarkable 17 goals in 11 games since returning from suspension on 25 September. He added: "I believe I can achieve the ambitions of winning trophies and playing at the very highest level with Liverpool. My aim is to help get us there as quickly as possible."
Liverpool's owner, Fenway Sports Group, has previously been reluctant to extend contracts mid-term but moved impressively to secure the club's prized asset. Principal owner John W Henry said:"We are committed to working hard to keep our best players and this is an indication that we are moving in the right direction and moving at a pace that impresses one of the best players in world football. "
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/dec/20/luis-suarez-signs-long-term-liverpool-deal
