Luis Suarez has revealed that Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard told him to snub a transfer to Arsenal and wait for Barcelona to make their move.
The Uruguayan sealed a £75m switch from Anfield to Camp Nou last summer, but during the year before that, the striker made it public that he was considering a move to Arsenal.
However, Suarez has now revealed that it was his club captain Gerrard who convinced him to sidestep interest from the Gunners.
"I do owe so much to Steven when Arsenal wanted to sign me," Suarez told The Express. "We had a private conversation and he said, 'give us another season and wait for Barcelona, you are too good for Arsenal'. It is the best advice he could have given. If it was not for him I might not be at Barcelona now."
Suarez is due to start for the Spanish giants in tonight's Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich.