Luis Suarez – Barcelona contract is a ‘present for me’

The former Liverpool forward scored 40 La Liga goals last season to spearhead his team’s title charge and has picked up two league crowns, two Copa del Reys and a Champions League winner’s medal since moving to the Nou Camp in 2014.

“More than for Barcelona, this is a present for me,” a delighted Suarez said. “The club and I, as we have said, both wanted this good relationship to remain. The club knows I am very happy here, that I wasn’t going to put any obstacles up. At the end, we came to an agreement which is now official.

“Any player would love to end his career at a club where he is happy. But this club makes the maximum demands and you never know.

It is a long term contract and I believe that I will be 34 or 35 by the time it ends. My goal is to fulfill this contract and then, depending on my physical state, we will see.”

The news of Suarez’s deal comes two months after fellow attacking star Neymar agreed a new contract, but Lionel Messi has yet to agree to fresh terms.

"My renewal has nothing to do with Neymar or Messi's,” Suarez said. Leo is a legend and he knows what he has to do and decide.

"As a team-mate, I am available to help him out but Leo is old enough to decide for himself. We are friends and we have a great relationship, but he is an adult and he has to take that decision."

If any club wants to tempt Suarez away from his lucrative deal in the Catalan capital then they will have to stump up the buy-out clause – an eye-watering €200m.