Luis Suarez reveals Arsenal ‘had Karim Benzema transfer all done’, before his bite on Chiellini changed everything
LUIS SUAREZ has claimed his infamous bite on Giorgio Chiellini caused Arsenal to lose out on signing Karim Benzema.
The year was 2014 and Suarez was looking to leave Liverpool with both Real Madrid and Barcelona interested.
And Madrid already had Benzema on the way out and Suarez lined up for a replacement during the World Cup.
But after the Uruguayan was caught biting Chiellini, he claimed Madrid lost interest.
He instead decided to join Barca, meaning Madrid kept Benzema and Arsenal were left empty handed.
He told La Mesa: “Before the 2014 World Cup, Real Madrid wanted to sign me and everything was on track.
“They were planning to sell Benzema to Arsenal, it was all done. “When the World Cup started, Barca joined the race, and obviously I preferred Barca.
“With the bite situation, Madrid lowered their interest, and Barca became more interested.
“In the end I had both options and I chose Barcelona because it was my dream.”
Suarez was caught on camera biting into Chiellini’s arm during a group stage match between Uruguay and Italy.
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It came just a year after he did the same to Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.
Suarez was banned for nine international games by Fifa but his move to Barca still went through.
He would go onto win four league titles and lift the Champions League during his time at the Nou Camp.
And now Suarez is back with team-mates Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets at Inter Miami.
But Suarez did reveal plans to retire, saying: “Yes, I cannot be more sincere and the family already knows. The date is not yet set, but this is the last step.
“I am prepared for this last challenge but it is also exhausting and I have to think about having a quality of life afterwards.