• Aspas attacks former team-mate’s punishment for biting • ‘Not to let him be presented by Barcelona or train is too much’

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

Iago Aspas says his former Liverpool team-mate Luis Suárez has been “treated like a murderer” by Fifa after the Uruguayan bit Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.

Aspas, who has been loaned to Sevilla for the forthcoming season, told the Spanish radio station Cadena Cope that he can understand why Suárez was banned from playing because it is not his first offence. However, he believes the Barcelona forward’s ban from all football related activity is excessive.

“They are treating Luis like a murderer and not like a footballer,” he said. “There are murderers who pay less [for what they have done]. Not to let him be presented [by Barcelona], to train or to enter the stadium is too much.”

Aspas failed to score a Premier League goal in a disappointing season at Anfield following his £7.6m move from Celta Vigo, but said he enjoyed playing alongside players such as Suárez, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling.

“Liverpool had a great season and I learned a lot from my team-mates,” he said.