Luis Suárez, pictured on tour with Liverpool in Thailand, understands the club's refusal to sell him, according to Brendan Rodgers. Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPALuis Suárez "totally understands" Liverpool's decision not to entertain any offers for him and remains happy at the club, according to his manager Brendan Rodgers.
Arsenal have had two bids rejected, the last one of £40m plus £1 which they believed would trigger a sale clause. Liverpool, though, maintained they merely had to inform the player of offers of that magnitude and have been steadfast in stating Suárez is not for sale.
They believe they are owed loyalty from the 26-year-old after standing by him during the race row which led to him being banned for eight matches, and during his current suspension of 10 games for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic.
The 26-year-old Uruguay international still appears keen to leave Anfield, although he has stopped short of submitting a transfer request or seeking legal recourse, but Rodgers said it had not changed his attitude.
"It's a story that can keep running but for me there is no new news," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo. "Luis is happy. He totally understands the club's point of view.
"He's in a difficult position in terms of not being able to play because of his suspension – he will sit out the first six games and he will miss playing football. But he's working hard and remains part of the group. He hasn't been moping about.
"It's obviously difficult when you come back after a break but he has settled in and has been working well. He needs to get up to speed and we will continue to work to get all the players ready for the first game of the season."
Suárez's situation was the transfer saga of the summer until it was recently overtaken by Real Madrid's pursuit of Tottenham's Gareth Bale with hardly a day going by without him being in the headlines.
It was not helped with the player being on Confederations Cup duty which meant he did not join up with the rest of the squad until he flew out to Australia on 21 July for their third pre-season friendly.
Rodgers is confident, however, that the situation has not had a destabilising effect on the rest of the squad.
"It could have unsettled them but it hasn't," he added. "It says a lot about their professionalism: the environment that we're creating is that the star will always be the team.
"We want to have top players here but if for whatever reason we don't, we will always know we can rely on the team and each other.
"The harmony in the group is very good. The spirit is strong. Right across the club there is a one-club mentality. If we can keep it that way we can have a great season."
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