Andy Hunter John W Henry has dealt an emphatic blow to Luis Suárez's hopes of leaving Liverpool by stating the striker will not be sold to Arsenal or to any other European club – for any price – this summer. Liverpool's principal owner described the prospect of allowing Suárez to join Arsenal as "ludicrous" as he went on the offensive following the player's decision to air his grievances to the Guardian on Tuesday. The Uruguay international has been accused of showing "total disrespect" by Brendan Rodgers and ordered to train away from the first-team squad. Rodgers has his employer's backing to marginalise Suárez for the foreseeable future, in the absence of an apology from the player for the public outburst. Suárez's agitation for a transfer, Arsenal's knowledge of a £40m clause in the 26-year-old's contract and submission of a £40,000,001 bid has only hardened Liverpool's resolve not to sell their prize asset. Henry said he told Ivan Gazidis, the Arsenal chief executive, that Liverpool would not entertain a bid from them, a club they perceive as a rival for Champions League qualification before offers of £35m and £40,000,001 were made. Liverpool's principal owner has also told Suárez and his agent, Pere Guardiola, that their attempts to force a transfer have arrived too late in this transfer window. "We are not going to sell Luis," said Henry, on a brief visit to Liverpool. "For all the top clubs it's extremely important [not to sell to a rival] but especially for Liverpool because we're not in Europe this year and have not been in the Champions League for a while. To sell to a rival for those positions, or one of them, would be ludicrous. Liverpool needs to be playing in Europe. It needs to be playing in the Champions League. That's what Liverpool football club is about." Liverpool may yet face a Premier League arbitration hearing or legal challenge from Suárez over a disputed clause in his contract that the PFA chief executive, Gordon Taylor, concedes "does not say the club has to sell". But even the threat of a mutinous Suárez and the prospect of his value diminishing next season will not alter Henry's stance. "I'm unequivocal that we won't sell to Arsenal, whatever the bid is," he said. "I have not said it to Stan [Kroenke, Arsenal's majority shareholder] but I had a personal conversation with others at Arsenal and told him [Gazidis] we would not sell to Arsenal." Only the Gunners have bid for a striker who scored 30 goals last season but is suspended for the first six matches of the new campaign for biting the Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic. Suárez has made no secret of his preference for a move to Real Madrid but an approach from the Spanish club would not succeed at this late stage, according to Henry. "He won't be sold even if a foreign club comes in because we do not have time to sign a suitable replacement," he said. "It's a football reason. It's not about finances. That's why at this point, so late in the window, with everyone who's already moved or isn't moving, we can't replace him. So for football reasons we can't sell, and especially to Arsenal." Liverpool informed Suárez and Guardiola that any transfer would have to be agreed early in this transfer window to allow Rodgers time to spend the fee. "We made that clear early-on," confirmed Henry, who believes Suárez is misguided in his reasons for wishing to join Arsenal. He said: "Players usually want to win. They want to go, generally in any sport, where they can win. That's why I think this particular episode is misguided. We've won more trophies than Arsenal, but I really don't want to get into that." Henry is adamant Liverpool have ended doubts over Suárez's future with less than four weeks of the transfer window remaining. "I think the issue has been resolved now," he said. "We have said 'no'. Luis will be a Liverpool player on September 3 [the day after the transfer window closes]." But he concedes that the dispute between Rodgers and Suárez may take longer to repair, with the striker accusing the manager of broken promises and being ostracised as a result. Asked if he could see Suárez playing for Liverpool again, Henry responded: "That's going to be between the manager and player. The manager is upset, as he should be, the supporters are upset, Luis is, but that's going to be between those two and his team-mates. We need Luis. Hopefully this will pass. "If you look at the full context of what's happened here it's jarring to all our supporters. The club has stood by him so strongly at a time when you could question whether the club should have stood by him [over the Patrice Evra racism controversy], but they did. I wouldn't say we regret that. The manager and his team-mates were solidly behind him. They were out on the field that day. So we felt they knew more about what occurred than we did, on the field." The Boston Red Sox owner once described the football industry as "the wild west" in comparison to baseball and despite his disgust at how football transfers are conducted, he sees no point in lodging a formal complaint against Arsenal. "How does a club who doesn't have permission to speak with your player see his contract? It should have been confidential," Henry said. "Unfortunately it's the way it works in football. People don't speak about it publicly but that's the way it's run. It's how things are done. I don't think there's a point because it just seems to happen everywhere. It's rotten."
I know what you mean and I hate him for everything as much as you but to be honest, if it came down to having him or not, sadly as I want us to be the best we can, i'd rather keep him. Even with reinvesting the cash we'd get for him, im thinking 50 mill. Im still not convinced he'll be here, once BR says to Henry he's being disruptive and sulking around I think Henry will get rid unfortunately. Unfortunate only in the way of we wont be as much of a threat on the field but I hate him for the way hes treated our club
well mr henry.. now you've said it i expect you to follow up on it. and sell him after the WC next year for a bigger fee...
Suarez is the one who has everything to lose right now. Following that disgusting interview by Suarez, we have already lost the most we will from this. Suarez has 3 years left on his contract and there is a World Cup year ahead. You would think that he would be an absolute idiot to sulk after the transfer deadline and risk being put in the reserves/sent on leave.
It may be all a bluff but that statement sounds like if Luis continues behaving the way he is BR has the backing to have him rot. That's one angry owner. So no official complaint about Arsenal but interesting that he states he told Arsenal personally no & yet they bid twice anyway. Adds weight to them being dirty tapping scumbags....
I wouldn't go as far as hate, I never do Henry's words above (#4782) are strong and to the point, this coupled with BR's comments yesterday and it looks like the club are going to say "tough ****" to Luis.
Hate is a strong word but I do hate the **** hes dragged LFC through and putting managers on the spot and everything frank put that up just as i posted that! Brilliant words from him. I think they're are good owners, think some fans forget as well that these people saved us from administration
I know you wasn't aiming that at me but I certainly haven't, it's something I regularly bring up on here when budget's / transfer are discussed!
Maybe a year long loan to a non-English CL club. He gets CL football and the fans don't have to watch him sulk - win-win.
Do they? If he wanted to stay in the end do you think most would still rather sell? (I know hes a complete ****)
I want him gone but he's (Henry) right if he'd gone and no replacement was found or a chunk of the money was rapidly spent on a non firer like Borini (not writing him off yet but you know what i mean) we'd all be livid that we're short again and would probably have some questioning the owners/management for mucking up again in transfers. This lays it squarely at Suarez door. A) apologies to everyone and we'll all suffer him playing until he's sold in January or Next summer. Do what he gets paid for, no hero songs. Purely business. B) he continues this behavior and we lay the blame at his door because he's sitting at home. But he's not scoring goals for Arsenal. He's not winning trophies elsewhere. Unpalatable but the stand is worth it in the long run. No club treats us like a feeder for a while and our players know that behaviour won't work.
You just highlighted the two reasons why FSG have my complete backing! 1) save us from liquidation 2) want us to be self-sustaining
