Luis Suarez: Selling Suarez Would Be a Colossal Mistake for Liverpool FC

The enigma that is Luis Suarez.

We all know the story—racism trials, disrupting behaviour, and his failure to score a prolific number of goals for which the Uruguayan was apparently brought in for.

Football fans are as fickle as ever.

When the Suarez vs. Evra trial started, we had two polarizing camps. However, after his behaviour against Manchester United, where he refused to shake Evra’s hand, the same people on board the Suarez bandwagon want him out.

On almost every football community, there are a handful of articles that have hinted at letting Suarez go from Liverpool.

Sometimes I wonder what makes football fans so vacillating.

First let’s dispel with the racism issues before tackling his skills as a footballer.                

A turning point in his career—and might I add, football—is indeed the racism scandal involving Patrice Evra.

Isn’t it ludicrous that such a ban was instituted on Suarez on the sole evidence of Patrice Evra, and Patrice Evra alone?

And shouldn’t a ban be instituted for Evra for using the word "South American" in a derogatory way? Last time I checked, insulting someone on the basis of their nationality also counts as racism.

Let me state: I do not believe Luis Suarez is a racist. This is not the first time that Evra has accused someone being a racist.

Evra is no saint either. You have to realize that this is the man who was the captain of the French national team and forced the entire team into disarray in the 2010 World Cup, bringing a shameful mark upon his country.

Also, the word Suarez used is commonly accepted all over the Spanish-speaking world, with even the team captain referred with the same term.

So what makes using the word acceptable to some users and not to others, especially those coming from a different culture and background?

It is even more insane that the ban was instituted against Suarez, who has grown up in a multicultural family himself and has never had a racial issue, although having worked with a number of different ethnicities.

How many of you know that Suarez has been a sponsor of the social project “From the Streets to the Fields” for almost one-and-a-half years?

Through this project, Suarez has been actively fighting against the racism that was instituted from the days of the apartheid.

At the last World Cup, Suarez, along with Andres Iniesta and Carlos Kameni, even filmed a documentary, with proceeds going to efforts to stamp out racism in South Africa.

But let’s cast the racism issue aside.

As a footballer, Luis Suarez is one of the best.

It’s true that his stats for Liverpool have not been impressive as for Ajax, but stats do not indicate everything. He remains the most threatening player for Liverpool.

He navigates with ease in tight areas, and recently against Arsenal, he was the one who won the penalty for Liverpool. Although it was not converted, he seemingly drew the goalkeeper towards him. The fall from Suarez was theatrical, but not a dive.

I think if Suarez had the role of a No.10 and had a quality striker in front of him, Liverpool would be converting a lot of chances.

He is often employed as a lone striker, which renders things difficult. Suarez is a great playmaker. Remember Dirk Kuyt’s hat trick against United? All three goals were orchestrated by Suarey.

Furthermore, he has only been in Liverpool for one season and has had numerous plaudits bestowed upon him.

This season he has had six goals and an assist in the Premier League, and he's also been Man of the Match four times. They are not as great as say Robin van Persie's stats, but they are certainly better than Fernando Torres'. 

He has been Liverpool's Player of the Month again and again. 

Yes, there has been a fair share of controversies, however they are not not irremediable.

Anyone remember Kung-Fu Cantona? Should United have done away with the Frenchman? And what about Roy Keane’s career-ending tackle on Alf-Inge Haland?

Let’s dispel hypocritical notions, shall we?

Moving on to his country, Suarez is prolific.

The 2010 World Cup and Copa America, for which he won the Player of the Tournament, showed the world-class talent of his.

I was dismayed by that handball against Ghana, but who wouldn’t have done the same? It was an instinctive reaction, and people need to get over it.

Suarez is a top quality talent who will be able to lead Liverpool to its glory days once again. In him, Liverpool have a player who commits to the game, is loyal and can serve as a role model for several players for years to come. 

Sometimes great players get embroiled in a controversy; however, it shows character to rise above and deal with it. Suarez has done that time and again. 

If Liverpool bolster their lineup with a quality attacking central midfielder and buy a quality deputy for Suarez, they will become a strong title threat for next year. 

If Liverpool do try to go ahead and sell him (which I doubt will happen), there would be plenty of suitors that will come knocking. Have no doubt about that.