Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has admitted that it would have been a "big error" to leave Liverpool for Arsenal in the summer of 2013.
The Gunners made an offer of £40,000,001 for Suarez in an attempt to trigger a rumoured buyout clause in the Uruguayan's contract.
However, Liverpool rejected the offer and the South American stayed at Anfield to plunder 31 goals en route to claiming the PFA and FWA Player of the Year awards, as the Reds finished second to Manchester City.
"It would have been a big error that I would have made had it not been for Steven Gerrard," Suarez is quoted as saying by World Soccer Talk. "We spoke about this when I went to Melwood to pick up my things at the end of the summer [following my transfer to Barcelona] and he said, 'You did the right thing, you waited until the best moment.'
"He had told me to play well for Liverpool, give it another year and it will be Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona coming for you and then you can go where you want because you have the quality to play at any of those three clubs."
Suarez moved to Barca in July for around £75m.
Paul Gorst
