Ex-Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has made the astonishing claim that the club only signed Luis Suarez from Liverpool because their first choice transfer target wasn’t available, according to The Sun.
The former Spanish international goalkeeper has revealed that it was Lionel Messi’s Argentine international teammate Sergio Aguero who the club wanted, but had to settle for Liverpool striker Suarez instead.
“We had a few options. Our first choice was not Suarez — he knows this,” he said.
“In the winter, we tried to sign Aguero. But it didn’t come off.
“In this situation, there was no doubt: Luis Suarez became our only objective.”
And Zubizarreta goes on to say that the controversy surrounding Suarez’s bite on Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini put the club in the driving seat as it warded off any other potential suitors.
“During the negotiation process, there was the incident with Chiellini,” he added.
“This put a lot of doubt into the minds of the clubs who wanted him.
“His character was being questioned and no one know just how severe the ban would be.
“I thought this was the moment to accelerate the formalities of the signing.”
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