The ex-Reds star insisted that, while the Uruguayan is an important player, the club will still cope if he leaves this summer

The potential departure of Luis Suarez this summer would not be the end of the world for Liverpool, insists club legend John Barnes.

Suarez has been less than shy in voicing his discontent with life in England in recent weeks and has repeatedly hinted he wants to move to Real Madrid this summer.

Barnes still holds out hope that the Uruguayan will remain at Anfield, but insists his departure would not be a fatal blow.

“I’d love for Suarez to stay, I think he’s a fantastic player, but if he decides he wants to go, then that’s part of football,” Barnes told reporters, speaking at a charity event at the Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore.

“What I always say, the club is the most important thing.

“If Luiz Suarez doesn’t want to be at Liverpool, Liverpool will still survive. They’ve survived from Ian Rush [leaving], people before and people after.

“I don’t have a problem with Luis Suarez at all, but the club is the most important thing.”