Bartomeu drops Suarez hint

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has refused to confirm the Catalan club are in talks with Liverpool to sign Luis Suarez, but hinted that the controversial striker was on the club’s agenda.

Reports emerged on Tuesday that Barca director Raul Sanllehi was due to meet Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre in London yesterday to begin negotiations for Suarez, who on Monday issued an apology for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during a World Cup match.

Bartomeu refused to speak directly about his team’s interest in Suarez, but followed sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta’s lead in commending Suarez for his apology to Chiellini — an apology suspected to have been encouraged by Barca.