Puyol warns Suarez to behave if he moves to Barca

Carles Puyol believes that Luis Suarez would prove a good acquisition for Barcelona, but warned the Uruguayan striker that he must improve his behaviour if the move materialises.

Reports yesterday suggested that the Catalan giants have agreed personal terms with the Liverpool hitman over a prospective £80 million ($171m) move to the Nou Camp this summer.

The speculation comes one week after Suarez was slapped with a four-month ban for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in the World Cup.

Although Puyol claims that the 27-year-old would be a welcome addition in Catalunya, the former Barcelona defender says that he must first acknowledge his responsibility as a role model.

He told El Mundo Deportivo: "Luis Suarez is a great striker. I've played against him.

"All of the names mentioned with Barcelona are good and we will have to wait and see who comes in the end.

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RESPONSIBILITY

"As a player, you have a responsibility. A lot of people look at us and we have to be aware of that and control our actions because children want to imitate us."

Suarez's current deal at Anfield expires in 2018.

Fifa's disciplinary chief has defended the decision to impose a ban on Suarez that also affects Liverpool for the biting offence committed at the World Cup.

Suarez's four-month ban from all football-related activity means he cannot play for a club until the end of October - but it would not prevent him having a medical for any possible transfer to Barcelona.

Claudio Sulser, the head of Fifa's disciplinary committee, said that an all-encompassing ban was the "risk" the player took.

Asked why the committee imposed a ban that damaged Liverpool, Sulser told Press Association Sport: "That's your opinion. It's a sanction against the player.

"That is the risk if you are a player and you are sanctioned at the World Cup.

"I agree with you it's a problem for Liverpool, but the sanction is in the disciplinary regulations."

APPEAL

Suarez has appealed against the ban.

Sulser had also earlier told a news conference that the player would be allowed to have a medical ahead of a transfer under the terms of his ban, which relates to all football-related activities including from stadiums.

Sulser said: "The player cannot have any activity related to football, but a medical examination for a transfer, yes - the sanction is not linked to transfer rights."

Liverpool stand to lose last season's best English Premier League player, who scored 31 league goals in 33 games as the Reds finished second in the standings.

But it's not all doom and gloom for the Merseyside club.

Yesterday, they confirmed the signing of midfielder Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported fee of £10m.

Can, a Germany Under-21 international, is the third player to join Liverpool in recent weeks, after the arrival of Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana from Southampton. - Wire Services.