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Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has revealed just how close he was to joining Arsenal from Liverpool in 2013.

The Uruguay international was disappointed with how his season with the Reds had gone, as they failed to qualify for the Champions League, and was looking to force a move to north London.

Arsenal made a cheeky offer of just £1 over Suarez’s £40m release clause but Liverpool stood firm in their determination to keep the South American at Anfield - and Suarez changed his plans at the last moment.

And he has revealed that the u-turn came after speaking to Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard - the club captain at the time - who persuaded Suarez not to pursue a transfer.

"We qualified for the UEFA Europa League but the season ended badly," Suarez told Otro.

(Image: Getty Images)

"I'm about to go to Arsenal, forcing myself to go, and Steven tells me 'I promise that if you stay this year you're going to take off and next year you'll go to Bayern, Barcelona, Real Madrid or whichever one you want, but stay this year because you won't be better off at Arsenal'.

"This was the last conversation I had with Gerrard at that moment and I told my agent that I had made my decision and I was staying.

"His words convinced me in that moment. They came from a person who cared for me, who wanted my well-being, who saw me suffer during training and saw me sad.

"They were words from a true captain that had an impact in that moment and helped me a lot."

And Gerrard's words came true for Suarez, who sealed a move to Barcelona in the summer of 2014, where he has since won three La Liga titles and the Champions League.

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