Fergie: Suarez a magnet for controversy

Premier League: Man Utd V Liverpool

Suarez returns to Old Trafford tomorrow for the first time since he refused to shake Patrice Evra’s hand to defuse the row that engulfed Liverpool and Manchester United when the Uruguayan racially abused his opponent at Anfield in October 2011.

The striker has been on top form this term, scoring 15 Premier League goals, just one fewer than Robin van Persie.

However, trouble never seems to be far away from the 25-year-old, who was at the centre of more negative headlines last weekend when he scored a goal at Mansfield that should clearly have been ruled out for handball.

“I didn’t see the Mansfield game, so it’s difficult to say if it was deliberate or not,” said Ferguson. “But I think the lad is laden with controversy. I don’t know if he enjoys it or not.”

Brendan Rodgers has already leapt to Suarez’s defence, although Ferguson can see elements of his own management style in that.

“You’re always going to support your own player,” he said. “That’s not surprising from Brendan Rodgers. I’ve done it myself. It’s part of your loyalty and protection of the player.

“I just hope we don’t suffer from some of the decisions that went Suarez’s way on Sunday.”

Indeed, Ferguson wants the action to be concentrated on the pitch, rather than the obvious animosity between two sets of fans spill over as it has done in the past.

“We’ve got the two most successful clubs in the country and you hope it’s a good game,” he said.

“Over the years they’ve been relatively free from controversy. No sensational decisions have marred the game.”

Yet, as Ferguson acknowledged, it is a fine balance.

“It is always an immensely important game. It is intense and emotional. Everything you can think of in a derby game will probably be there.”

That passion endures even though Liverpool are now approaching 23 years since the last of their 18 championships.

The Reds are presently 21 points adrift of United, stuck in mid-table and face a tough task just to reclaim a place in the Champions League.

It is not what the Merseyside giants are used to.

And, after the ill-fated second spell of Kenny Dalglish, Ferguson believes Rodgers needs the patience of owner John Henry.

“Patience is a real commodity in football and if Brendan’s getting that then he’s very lucky,” said Ferguson.

“It’s terrific if Liverpool fans are prepared to be patient because it’s going to require it because it’s a long way back to where they used to be.

“They haven’t won the league for more than 20 years. It’s a long time for a club like Liverpool.”

These days Manchester City, not Liverpool, are United’s biggest rivals and Ferguson yesterday claimed Robin van Persie turned down Manchester City’s advances long before Manchester United secured the signing that could win them the Premier League title.

Van Persie’s presence at Old Trafford has been the subject of irritation to City boss Roberto Mancini, who placed the Dutchman at the top of his list of transfer targets last summer, only to lose out to his biggest rivals.

Mancini blamed Blues’ former director of football Brian Marwood for the failure, believing van Persie could have been acquired if City had moved quicker.

Ferguson does not believe that is the case.

In fact, when United made their move, he felt Juventus were the biggest threat.

“He [van Persie] told me himself that he turned them down,” said Ferguson. “Juventus made a massive offer to the boy. I thought they were our biggest threat. But fortunately he signed for us.”

After years of speaking about value and youth, Ferguson spent £24m on a player edging towards 30, with only a year left on his contract and a dubious injury record.

To an outsider, it seemed like a gamble. To Ferguson it was anything but.

“It was a lot of money for a player in the last year of his contract,” said the Scot.

“But the thing about it is — as it proved with City the year before when they paid £24m for Samir Nasri — you either want him or you don’t.

“You have to pay the price that the club are sticking out for, whether it is one year on his contract, two or three.

“We wanted him badly, so we were prepared to go the extra mile.”

The rewards have been startling.

Van Persie’s 20th goal of the season saved United’s FA Cup hopes at West Ham last Saturday.

Four days earlier he netted twice at Wigan in a victory that kept the Red Devils seven points ahead of City in the Premier League title race, part of a current run of nine goals in nine games.

“I expected his signing would be important for us,” said Ferguson. “I really did. “Any player coming to us for the first year, you never know for sure. Who would have thought Wayne Rooney would have got a hat-trick on his debut? It is fairytale stuff. But what we did know was that we were signing a very good player.”