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FROM FOES TO FRIENDS; SUAREZ CALLS JUVE CAPTAIN HE BIT AT BRAZIL 2014

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Suarez was not sent off – and laughably tried to claim that Chiellini had injured his teeth with his shoulder (above) – as the referee did not see it, but he was later banned for four months

It’s been six years since the infamous biting of Italian player, Giorgio Chiellini by Uruguayan striker, Luis Suarez. Now the duo will be teammates at Juventus where Chiellini is the captain.

According to Daily Mail in UK, Suarez phoned Chiellini to clear the air as the outcast Barcelona striker inches nearer to joining Juventus.

It will be recalled that in the Uruguay’s 0-1 loss to Italy at the Brazil 2014 World Cup, Suarez infamously bit the shoulder of Chiellini. Even though Suarez escaped the red card as the referee did not see the incident that was captured on camera, he was later banned for four months for the savage attack.

Chiellini protested to the referee by revealing the bite marks on his shoulder made by Suarez

Now, according to Italian publication, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Suarez  has spoken to Chiellini, who is Juve’s captain, as he aims to put the incident behind them and move on as potential team-mates.

Suarez is set to sign a contract worth £9m per year after tax – the same wage he earns at Barcelona. Despite the disgraceful nature of Suarez’s bite, Chiellini has since shrugged off the incident.

He said: ‘Suddenly I noticed he had bit my shoulder.

‘It just happened, but this is his contact strategy in hand-to-hand combat and, if I may say so, it is mine too.

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‘He and I are similar.’

Despite laughably trying to claim that Chiellini had injured his teeth with his shoulder Suarez later took responsibility for his actions.

Suarez said: ‘I admit I was wrong, but I am a human being.

‘Each player has his own style of play, his own character and this got me where I am now.’ 

Juventus are set to land Suarez in a deal worth just £4.4million as Barcelona continue their summer clearout under new boss Ronald Koeman.

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At 33 years old, Barca are keen to move on the striker in a bid to ease their wage bill and Juventus are hopeful a cut-price deal for the former Liverpool hitman can be done within the next three weeks, in time for the start of the new Serie A campaign.

According to Sky Sports Italia, Juventus are hoping that with Suarez in their team alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala they could field one of the best front threes in Europe.

Juventus have excellent relations with Barcelona and are confident an agreement for Suarez’s move to the Allianz Stadium can be arranged swiftly.

Suarez has already agreed a three-year-deal with Juve worth around £9million per year with bonus clauses to be added.

However, the deal could be held up by Suarez’s financial demands from the Nou Camp outfit.

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It is understood the Uruguay hitman is demanding £22m in severance pay and is not willing to negotiate lowering his request.

Suarez’s contract at the Nou Camp expires next summer having joined them six years ago from Liverpool.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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