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BARCELONA. — Barcelona striker Luis Suarez says he has talked to specialists about his behaviour and insists there will be no further biting incidents. Suarez is serving a four-month ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup — his third biting offence. “I say to fans, don’t worry, because I won’t do that anymore,” he promised.
“I spoke to my psychologist and he said I had to face it and say sorry. I did — now I would rather focus on the present, which is Barcelona.”
The controversial striker said he was “very depressed” after the World Cup biting incident that led to the Uruguay international being initially banned from all soccer activities for four months.
Suarez can now train with new club Barcelona and play friendlies, following an appeal hearing last week, before making his competitive return at the end of October.
“I prefer not to look backwards,” the former Liverpool forward said as he was presented to the media at the Nou Camp yesterday.
“I didn’t want to do anything and I was very depressed,” added Suarez referring to his state of mind following the biting incident involving Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup in Brazil.
“I decided that all I could do was accept reality and say sorry. I have apologised to people in Uruguay for what happened and I am now looking ahead.”
“I am speaking to professionals — the right professionals. But it is a private matter and I don’t want to comment further on that.”
The Uruguayan featured for the first time for Barca when he came on for the last 15 minutes of Monday’s 6-0 friendly victory over Mexican side Leon.
Suarez is set to play his first La Liga game in the “Clasico” against Real Madrid the weekend of October 25-26.
During yesterday’s presentation, vice-president Jordi Mestre disclosed that the transfer fee Barca had agreed with Liverpool was 65 million pounds.
“I hope the time goes quickly as I want to play again,” said Suarez. “It is going to be difficult as I will have to wait some months but I have accepted this.
“My job is to train and be ready to return by the end of October. All I can do is prepare and be ready for the game against Real.
“It would be great to play but it is down to the coach,” added Suarez.
“I have really found a great atmosphere in the dressing room . . . everyone has been very friendly and obviously the time passes quicker if you are with teammates and new people.”
Brazil forward Neymar and former World Player of the Year Lionel Messi were involved in Monday’s match.
“Neymar and Messi were fantastic to watch,” said Suarez. “Everyone knows what I can offer and I will work hard to bring trophies back to Barca which is the reason I am here.”
Suarez made his first appearance for Barcelona after his move from Liverpool for a reported 65 million pounds as the Catalans hammered Mexican side Club Leon 6-0 in a friendly on Monday night.
The Uruguayan striker, who won’t be able to play in a competitive game for Barca until October after his appeal against a fourth-month ban for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup was rejected last week, replaced Rafinha Alcantara 14 minutes from time.
Barca were already leading 4-0 thanks to goals from Lionel Messi, Munir El Haddadi and a double from Neymar before Munir and Sandro rounded off the scoring.
Despite his controversial past, which includes two previous bans for biting as well as a suspension by the English Football Association for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra, Suarez was warmly received by the home fans as he made his entrance.
Earlier, Neymar and Messi made a telling impact in their first outings since their World Cup ended in a devastating back injury and defeat in the final respectively.
Messi headed the hosts in front inside three minutes from Neymar’s deflected cross.
The Brazilian striker then doubled Barca’s lead with a delightful chip from Andres Iniesta’s through ball before grabbing his second of the night when he backheeled into an empty net two minutes before halftime.
Munir replaced Neymar at half-time and he tapped home the fourth goal when Dani Alves knocked Ivan Rakitic’s ball over the top into the 19-year-old’s path.
And moments after Suarez had made his entrance, Munir smashed home his second goal of the game with a powerful low finish before Sandro put the seal on a fine Barca performance in similar fashion a minute from time.
Suarez spent three years with Liverpool, during which he was banned for eight matches for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra and suspended for a further 10 matches for biting Branislav Ivanovic of Chelsea.
Last month, he joined Barcelona for a reported fee of £75m but the Catalan club’s vice president Jordi Mestre said yesterday the actual amount was significantly less.
“Negotiations started before the World Cup and we worked hard to come to a final figure of £65m. We were originally quoted over €90m (£72m).
“He had much better offers than ours financially but he wanted to come to Barcelona. He made a great effort – financially and personally – to be here.”
Suarez admitted he feared for his career after the incident with Chiellini in Uruguay’s 1-0 win in Natal on 24 June.
“Of course I was concerned — not just about the transfer to Barcelona but more for me as a person. But, as I’ve said, that’s in the past now and I’m trying to concentrate on Barcelona,” he said. “Everything that happens in the past, that needs to be forgotten. If I start thinking about everything I’ve gone through, I wouldn’t be able to sleep.”— AFP.
Online Reporter