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Liverpool's Signing Of Fabio Borini Helped Convince Luis Suarez He Had To Leave

Liverpool's Signing Of Fabio Borini Helped Convince Luis Suarez He Had To Leave

Luis Suarez did not rate Fabio Borini in the slightest after Brendan Rodgers' brought him to Anfield.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Liverpool's signing of Fabio Borini helped convince Luis Suarez he had to leave the club to realise his Champions League dream.

Having worked together at Chelsea and Swansea, Borini was Brendan Rodgers' first signing after he took over from Kenny Dalglish in the summer of 2012.

Suarez was preparing for his first full season at Anfield, having signed in the same January window where Fernando Torres was sold for £50 million.

Initially thinking he would be playing alongside Torres upon his move from Ajax, the Uruguayan, in his prime years at 27, had mixed feelings over the first two additions Rodgers brought in.

Suarez is said to have rated Joe Allen as a "good signing", but The Athletic say the move for Borini caused him to question the squad depth at the club and come to the conclusion that his goals would not be achieved on Merseyside.

Borini joined for around £10.5 million but didn't produce the goods in his first season at Liverpool, scoring twice in 20 games in all competitions.

Image: PA
Image: PA

He was loaned out to Sunderland for the 2013/14 season, where Liverpool finished runners up as Suarez, flanked by signings Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge, as well as the emerging Raheem Sterling, tore teams apart.

Prior to that campaign, Suarez was keen to join Arsenal when the Gunners made an infamous £40 million and £1.00 bid for his services.

Even though it did activate the release clause, Liverpool's owners were almost insulted by the offer, with John W.Henry memorably tweeting "What do you think they're smoking over there at the Emirates?"

He stayed put and produced that stunning 31-goal season but would seal a move to Barcelona for £64.98 million just weeks after biting Giorgio Chiellini in the 2014 World Cup and being hit with a ban until October.

Image: PA
Image: PA

Borini, meanwhile, ended up returning to Liverpool for the 2014/15 season before signing for Sunderland permanently and later turning out for AC Milan, Hellas Verona and current club Fatih Karagümrük.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Liverpool, Football News, Football, Luis Suarez

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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