Luis Suarez tells friends he wants to leave Liverpool and join Barcelona, according to Spanish reports

Luis Suarez during the FIFA World Cup 2014

According to Spanish publication Sport, Liverpool forward Luis Suarez told friends of his desire to team up with Barcelona this transfer window, as reported by the Metro.

The Uruguayan striker is said to have held phone conversations with friends while on international duty at the World Cup, telling them he wants to leave Liverpool and join Lionel Messi at the Nou Camp.

Last week, reports surfaced that suggested Barcelona were weighing up a bid which would activate Suarez’s release clause.

The Catalan club are undergoing extensive reshuffling of personnel in the wake of their first trophy-less season since the 2007/08 campaign.

Liverpool are reluctant to part with the Premier League’s joint-top goalscorer, yet Sport understands that Barcelona are confident they could lure him to Spain for the right figure.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid are said to be dropping their interest the in the 25-year-old Salto native. Los Blancos have been heavily linked with the divisive frontman in recent transfer windows but are now thought to favour renewing Karim Benzema’s contract over sanctioning another deal of Gareth Bale-esque proportions.