(Image source from: Luis Suarez leaves Liverpool)

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez leaves Liverpool to join Barcelona. The controversial, but brilliant striker was expelled from World Cup 2014 for biting Italy's defender Giorgio Chiellini. He has been handed out a four months ban from any football activities along with a nine-match international ban.

Liverpool agreed to sell 27-year-old Suarez to Barcelona, said the Anfield club in a statement issued on Friday.

Manager Brendan Rodgers said that Liverpool tried everything to keep Luis at the club for a sustained period of time. The decision to let him go comes with great reluctance after lengthy discussions with the football player. The club has agreed to let Luis move to Spain for gathering more experiences and new challenges.

The club wishes Luis Suarez and his family well. They will always be friends of the club, added Rodgers.

Suarez issed a statement paying tribute to Liverpool fans. His farewell statement said that he is leaving Liverpool with a heavy heart. He will enter a new phase of life in Spain, with new challenges. The Uruguay striker further said that he and my family love the club and also the city.

But it's the incredible fans with whom he has fallen in love the most. He said that his fans had always supported him. So he and his family will always be supporters of Liverpool.

(AW: Pratima Tigga)