Former Liverpool forward Neil Mellor believes the Anfield club would only consider bids in excess of €100 million if they are to sell the now banned Uruguay star
EXCLUSIVE
By Russell Stoddart
Former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor has called for Luis Suarez to seek professional help after Fifa announced he would receive a four-month global ban from football for biting Giorgio Chiellini.
The 27-year-old has arrived back in Montevideo after leaving Uruguay’s team hotel although the South American nation’s Football Association chairman Wilmar Valdez has already confirmed they will appeal the sanction, that included a nine-match international ban.
And Mellor has urged Suarez to consider psychological help after his latest indiscretion and feels that Liverpool have been treated harshly as they face up to the prospect of not having Suarez available until November.
He told Goal: “This is unprecedented from Fifa and Liverpool are unfortunate victims of this. We all expected a ban, but I hoped it would remain just for international duty.
“If this had been in the Confederations Cup last summer then it might have done, but it was the biggest stage and Fifa knew they had to make a big statement.
“Liverpool have to accept the verdict because it could have been a lot worse. Suarez now has to get proper help. Psychologists are playing an increasingly important role in the modern game and they need to help him to get to the bottom of his problem. This has happened three times now and there seems no end to it.”
The likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid have been heavily linked with a move for Suarez this summer but Mellor believes that the Merseysiders would only consider bids in excess of €100 million.
He added: “The only reason why a club would keep him after this is because he is a world class player. He was the best player in the Premier League last season.
“If it had been any other player, he probably would be shown the door. The big question for Brendan Rodgers now is does he cut his losses and say ‘enough is enough’. The club is being dragged down because of the antics of one high-profile player and that cannot be allowed to continue.
“Liverpool would only consider bids of £80m (€100m) plus for Suarez and while they would have been reluctant to let him go before this latest incident, perhaps they might think it would be a good bit of business.
“They have to weigh up the brilliance of the player who won every individual accolade last season versus the madness of the player who bites his opponents.”