Sunday 13 July 2014 13:18, UK
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is excited by the prospect of Luis Suarez joining his star-studded squad this season.
Suarez will be presented as a Barcelona player on Wednesday after terms, which will be confirmed when the deal is made official, were agreed with Liverpool.
The Uruguay striker will join Lionel Messi and Neymar in an attacking line-up most teams could only ever dream of, although he will miss the start of the season because of the four-month worldwide ban he is serving for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup finals.
“It is incredible to join those three players in the same club," Bartomeu told Sky Sports' La Liga pundit Guillem Balague.
"It’s something fantastic and something unusual. It’s unusual in the world of football to have three top players plus Iniesta, plus Busquets, plus Pique, plus Mascherano and the young ones that are coming – it’s incredible to have this team."
Bartomeu was unable to confirm what Barcelona are paying Liverpool for Suarez, after being asked whether they had been forced to pay the reported 100 million euro buyout clause in his contract, amid reports the actual fee is nearer 81 million.
"Well actually we are not allowed to explain a lot about these figures but roughly you are right on your explanation," he added.
Bartomeu also revealed the club was keen to sign Suarez before last season finished, and he talked with new coach Luis Enrique about him when he was appointed.
"Suarez is one of the best strikers in the world and at the end of last season and during the season Andoni Zubizarreta, our sporting director, started to think we had to bring a striker to our club," he added.
“Luis Suarez was on the table and our new coach Luis Enrique, when he signed, we explained everything quickly the plans and he said ‘of course, if you can bring Luis Suarez to our club, bring him – he is a fantastic player.’"
Bartomeu is not too concerned by the baggage Suarez brings with him, the ban he is serving for biting Chiellini being the third he has been punished with, as well as being suspended for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.
“We have to make him better," Bartomeu said.
"Luis knows, and he said it publicly, he made a mistake. He recognises it, he said he was sad and he explained everything to the player and to the world of football.
“We will help Luis Suarez to recover from this problem, from this mistake. He has the will and he knows what he did perfectly, and if we can recover him I think everyone will be happy, not just our club because we will see him playing with us, but the world of football which needs players like Luis Suarez."
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