'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has left an emotional video message to former team-mate Luis Suarez as a part of the Uruguayan receiving the European Golden Boot award at a ceremony on Wednesday.
The former Liverpool star scored 31 league goals last season before making a £65 million move to Barcelona in the summer. Currently serving a ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini during a FIFA World Cup match he shares the award with Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo. The duo could meet on the field as early as 25th October during the season’s first El Clasico, a day after the four-month ban ends. Ronaldo will recieve his award in a separate event on 6th November. The Portuguese has already scored 13 goals in 6 league matches this season.
The 27-year-old reportedly convinced former Liverpool manager and legend Kenny Dalglish to be the one to hand him the trophy.
Gerrard: We miss you
Gerrard couldn’t attend the ceremony and sent a video message to congratulate him.
“You were a magical player at Liverpool. Barça are lucky. Good luck for the future, mate. We miss you very much, all the best,” Gerrard said.
“I'm sorry I can't be with Luis today but I would like to congratulate him from everyone here at Liverpool.”
Suarez engineered move: Gerrard
Earlier last month, the former England captain had said that the former Ajax forward had engineered his move from the Premier League to Barcelona.
“I thought he(Suarez) was going to stay, I thought we’d have got another year out of him,”
“I was actually already on the floor when I saw the bite because we knew we were going out. It was a double blow, knowing you’re going out of the World Cup and knowing you’re going to lose your best player.
“I knew there was no way back for him then and I knew he was going to engineer a way out.” he had said during an interview to Sky Sports.
Suarez: I won it because of my Liverpool teammates
The new Barcelona signing didn’t forget to mention his former his teammates in his speech and appeared excited about the prospect of his debut during the El Clasico.
“I wouldn't have won this trophy if it wasn't for the teammates. Anxious to return? It's getting closer, I'm very motivated,” Suarez said.
“I'm ready to play, it's up to the coach to decide. It would be something special to make my debut against Madrid,” Suarez said.
“Adapting? I just think about having good time. I joined the club I always wanted to play at, I thank Barça for fulfilling my dream.”
Dalglish: We’d love him back on loan
Kenny Dalglish said that the player was unstoppable and jokes that Liverpool would love to take him back on loan if things didn’t work out at the Catalan club for him.
He said: "I don't think there will be anybody who will be able to stop him.
"He has been fantastic everywhere he has been - a huge success and fabulously entertaining. There is no reason why he won't continue that for Barcelona.
"But if he does hit a problem, I'm sure we can take him back on loan!"
