Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted that the club did all that they could to retain the services of striker Luis Suarez before finally agreeing to his exit from Anfield.

The Merseyside outfit have confirmed that Suarez will sign for Barcelona next week after the completion of a medical. Rodgers, while disappointed about the Uruguayan's departure, has insisted that there is still a good relationship between player and club.

The 41-year-old told the club's official website: "Luis is a very special talent and I thank him for the role that he has played in the team in the past two years, during my time at Liverpool.

"I think that he would be the first to accept he has improved as a player over that period, along with the team and has benefited from being here, as we have benefited from him.

"The club have done all they can over a sustained period of time to try to keep Luis at Liverpool. It is with great reluctance and following lengthy discussions, we have eventually agreed to his wishes to move to Spain for new experiences and challenges. We wish him and his young family well; we will always consider them to be friends."

Suarez leaves Liverpool having scored 82 goals in 133 appearances in all competitions.