Ayre plays down Suarez reports

Ayre plays down Suarez reports

Published Mar. 21, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre believes Luis Suarez's latest comments about a possible summer move may have been "lost in translation".

Suarez's future at Anfield has made headlines after it was reported he would be willing to talk with other clubs following an interview in his native Uruguay.

Ayre has, however, played down any notion the 26-year-old striker may be about to leave the Reds after signing a four-year deal last August.

"You can read into the comments - it was given in his native language so I think maybe it was a bit lost in translation," Ayre told BBC Radio Five Live.

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"We've been consistent with Luis. Last summer he signed a new four-year contract and we have no desire to sell Luis. He is a fantastic player and a great contributor to our team. We've been very honest with him and he's been very honest with us. There is always going to be instances, particularly leading up to the summer (transfer) window, when people are quoted or asked these questions."

Suarez was also quoted to have said he was "very happy" at Liverpool and Ayre insisted that while other clubs may come knocking he expected the 26-year-old to remain at Anfield.

"We are very pleased to have Luis and long may that continue," he said.

"He also says in the same interview that he feels he is in an elite team at Liverpool. Every player is going to get approached by clubs because that is the nature of the game. Every player has a choice - that's part of the game. He has a four-year contract with us and we hope he will see that through."

Suarez is in his homeland to prepare for Uruguay's World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Chile in the next week.

He is the leading goalscorer in the Premier League this season, with 22, to prompt claims he is now on the radar of the biggest clubs in Europe.

"I am very happy at Liverpool but you never know in football," Suarez is quoted as saying to AFP reporters in Montevideo. A player's ambition is always there, the ambition of wanting to play in elite teams is always there.

"I'm in a world-class team, an elite team like Liverpool. We have to realize we have a new manager who is imposing a philosophy and a way of playing that the players are adapting to as best we can. We hope it will bear fruit next year.

"If another team comes around with more prospects of competing in international club competition games, which is willing to have me, they are welcome. We would talk to the club. We would see if I want to go, if I don't want to go."

Suarez added he is enjoying life under Brendan Rodgers following the manager's arrival last summer, and added: "We have to realize we have a new manager who is imposing a philosophy and a way of playing that the players are adapting to as best we can. We hope that it will bear fruit next year."

Suarez himself has been on the end of severe criticism in the British press for his perceived play acting, and he admits he has a 'strange' style of play and he will never lose the tricks he picked up on the street as a kid.

"I have a very strange way of playing football," Suarez said.

"I'm my own severest critic and I realize when I make mistakes. There are times that I get yellow cards that can influence a game, but I have improved and I have to continue (improving).

"You can lose some things, but can never lose the slyness, the passion that you have had since you were a kid playing in the street. If I didn't have the character that I have today on the pitch, I don't think that I would have become the player that I am."

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