Liverpool striker Luis Suarez could be driven away
from the Barclays Premier League if he remains
the focus of victimisation, according to former
Reds director of football Damien Comolli.
Comolli brought the Uruguay striker to Anfield in
January 2011 for a then club record £22.7m and
Suarez has regularly hit the headlines for his
goalscoring prowess as well as some more
controversial incidents.
"I find it extremely hard to understand why
people look at all the bad aspects and not how
good the player is," Comolli told BBC Sport.
"It'll be an absolute shame for English football if
this victimisation drives him away. As the biggest
league in the world you want to keep the biggest
players, not drive them away for crazy reasons.
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.
"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."
Suarez is by far the Reds' top-scorer this season,
having scored a total of 19 goals in all
competitions, way outstripping Steven Gerrard
and Jonjo Shelvey with five apiece. However,
Suarez has also been at the centre of controversy,
most memorably his eight-match ban for racially
abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.
He has also been accused of stamping and diving
while his handball helped Liverpool beat Mansfield
in Sunday's FA Cup match.
Manager Brendan Rodgers believes Suarez thrives
on the abuse and criticism he receives and insists
he would not swap him for Manchester United's
Robin van Persie. The Barclays Premier League's
two leading scorers go head-to-head on Sunday
at Old Trafford and Suarez is certain to receive a
hostile reception.
"His mental fitness is very strong," said the Reds
boss. "He is a player who, like most top players,
can cope mentally and you have to because of
the pressures they put on themselves to perform
and the pressures of playing for a big club.
"But I think he has been admirable. He has never
come in here any day not smiling and working
hard. Like with all the players I always spend the
time to make sure he is in a good way not just on
the field but off it and he has been no different. If
anything he thrives on it and it gives him a
greater motivation and I think everyone has seen
that since he has been here."
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