The playmaker believes Uruguay are a “great team”, led by the match-winning talents of the Liverpool ace, while revealing that Spain are motivated by their past Confeds failings

Xavi has urged Spain to keep a close eye on Luis Suarez in their Confederations Cup curtain-raiser with Uruguay on Sunday, claiming the forward is a “decisive player”.

The Liverpool man will reportedly use the World Cup rehearsal as a shop window, as links with Real Madrid continue to gather pace, and the 33-year-old is wary of the threat posed by his rival attacker.

“Luis Suarez is a decisive player and one that can prove the difference. He is a nuisance to the defence, just as Diego Forlan and Edinson Cavani are. They have a great team,” he said at a press conference.

“But whoever we play, the philosophy remains the same. We want to be protagonists, keep the ball and play on the attack.

“Against Uruguay and any other team, we must be very dynamic, move the ball quickly and open up the pitch.

“We are also concerned about the condition of the pitch. We hope that it is watered, because that will favour us. We will look out on this.”

Spain were surprisingly knocked out of the 2009 Confederations Cup at the semi-final stage, having lost 2-0 to USA, and Xavi is adamant that his international team-mates will use the disappointment as a source of motivation this time around.

“We are very excited and have the thorn of not having won in 2009. Maybe at my age this is my last Confederations Cup,” he added.

“For fans of football, Brazil have a place in the history in world football. They are fancied coming into this tournament.

“Playing here is an added bonus. We are going to try and win it.”

Xabi Alonso will miss the competition in Brazil due to ankle surgery, while the lack of appearances accumulated by captain Iker Casillas since January is seen as a cause for concern, yet the Barcelona veteran refused to dwell on the duo’s hardships.

“[Iker] is still the captain and he is happy and training hard at the moment. His importance to the team is great,” he noted.

“The system does not change [without Alonso], but only the players starting in the XI. Xabi gives great balance and is a significant absence.”

The Liverpool striker has once again commented on his future in the media, and says he is “disturbed” by the Anfield outfit’s absence from the Champions League

Liverpool forward Luis Suarez has once again heaped praise on Real Madrid as speculation continues to surround his future on Merseyside.

The Uruguay international, currently in Brazil for the Confederations Cup, had previously claimed he would relish the chance to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo for los Blancos.

And now the 26-year-old has begun discussing the qualities he feels he could offer Madrid, saying he would give his all for the Santiago Bernabeu outfit.

“I will give my soul every time I step on the pitch,” Suarez revealed when asked by El Pais what he would bring to a team like Madrid.

“I have done this with Uruguay, Ajax and Liverpool. I do not hold anything when I finish a game.”

Suarez also reiterated his belief that joining Madrid would be the pinnacle of any player’s career, and admits he is disappointed that Liverpool will not be playing in Europe next season.

“A player always aspires to be at the top of their profession and Madrid is at the top for any football player,” he continued. “But, do you know what it is like to play for Liverpool?”

“It disturbs me that Liverpool are not in the Champions League every season.

“I’ve suffered at Liverpool, but when I think of what it represents to play for this club, and the love my daughter has – she sings the hymn – the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I play at Anfield.”

The Ghana forward made no secret of his admiration for English football and issued a thinly veiled hint that he would be open to a move to England and particularly to Liverpool

Andre Ayew has expressed his desire to play in the Premier League “if interested clubs have the number of Olympique de Marseille president Vincent Labrune.

The striker scored nine goals in 35 Ligue 1 games last season as the southern France outfit claimed the runners-up spot, 12 points behind winners Paris Saint-Germain.

However, speaking to French programme Telefoot on Sunday morning, the 23-year-old was open about his enthusiasm for the Premier league, strongly suggesting that he would accept an offer from an English club if one arrived this summer.

“It’s a league I always think of,” the Ghana international acknowledged.

“I am Ghanaian and an English speaker, and the English league is the one most watched in Ghana. I have a strong preference for England. I am not seeking to leave but if interested clubs have the number of [Marseille] president [Vincent] Labrune.”

Ayew, who was named BBC African Footballer of the Year in 2011, also spoke of his affection for Liverpool, the club he supported as a child.

“As for Liverpool- yes, I have followed them since I was young.”

Ayew is contracted to Marseille until June 2015.