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Luis Suarez: I thought I had blown Barcelona move

Image: Luis Suarez: Feared for his move to Barcelona

Luis Suarez has revealed he thought he had blown his chance of joining Barcelona after his infamous bite on Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.

The Uruguayan was banned for four months from all football activity following his bite on Chiellini during Uruguay's 1-0 win over Italy at this summer's finals in Brazil.

In the wake of the ban Suarez's future at Liverpool was the subject of constant speculation and in July, Barcelona announced they had agreed a deal to sign the 27-year-old.

Suarez admits he thought had ruined his career and destroyed his chances of moving to Barcelona after the incident with Chiellini.

"I thought that I had ruined my career," Suarez told TV3. "At first, I wanted nothing to do with anyone. I shut me and my family away from the world, but upon reflection, I asked for forgiveness and I felt liberated.  

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"By then, the initial contacts with Barcelona had begun and when Pere [Guardiola, his agent] called me to tell me that it was a done deal, I started crying, because of the situation I was going through and for the support Barcelona was offering me. I felt so happy with the commitment the club showed with me.

"I was afraid Barcelona were going to back off, due to the repercussions surrounding the incident; I was conscious of the fact that this could happen."

Suarez admits he found it hard to come to terms to being banned from all football activities, being forced to train alone away from his team-mates

"I started training in the gym, I avoided the cameras and the paparazzi; it was a very difficult time because I didn't feel like a professional, I thought I was in hiding, that I was doing something I shouldn't, but all of this was because of an error that I made, I accepted responsibility and the criticism that came with it," added Suarez.

Suarez is eligible to make his competitive bow for Barcelona in El Clasico against Real Madrid this weekend, and the forward is excited at the prospect of playing in  arguably the biggest game in club football.

"I’ve been very nervous and excited," noted Suarez. "I don’t imagine myself playing because this can play tricks on you, but I imagine myself playing with my team-mates, preparing for the game.  

"It’s not my style to ask the manager to play in this type of game. I don’t dare say to Luis Enrique that I want to play at the Bernabeu.”

I was afraid Barcelona were going to back off, due to the repercussions surrounding the incident; I was conscious of the fact that this could happen.
Luis Suarez

Suarez insists he will have no problem if he does play against Real Madrid, admitting it is a dream come true to play for Barcelona and that he hopes to end his career at the Camp Nou.

“I won’t be angry, I want to help my team-mates and show what I can do as a player," said Suarez. "I just want to play, I don’t care what position.

“It’s a dream come true to play for a team that you’ve always wanted to play for and if I have the opportunity to retire here, at Barca, it would be the perfect end to my career and I’d like to continue living in Barcelona for the love and care of my family.”

Watch Saurez make his debut for Barcelona against Real Madrid in El Classico, live on Sky Sports 5 on Saturday from 7.30pm.

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