Barcelona, March 28 (IANS) Spanish champions FC Barcelona shelled out $91.6 million for the transfer of Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez from English club Liverpool in the summer of 2014, according to the contract papers leaked by online whistleblower Football Leaks on Monday.
Football Leaks, which specialises in revealing football secrets, said that the contract dated July 11, 2014, reveals that the transfer divides the payments into five instalments, of $18.32 million each, with one instalment still to be paid on July 31, reports Efe.
In addition to the player himself, the contract was signed by Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, vice-president Jordi Mestre, and Antoni Rossich, who was then the general director of the club, as well as Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre.
Suarez moved to the Catalan club in the summer of 2014, after having become top scorer in the English Premier League during the previous season with Liverpool.
His transfer came shortly after causing a huge controversy for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup.
Due to a four-month suspension, his first appearance with Barcelona was delayed until October 26, 2014.
Suarez enjoys the trust of coach Luis Enrique and has already scored 68 goals in 86 appearances in all competitions with Barcelona.
