Ex-Liverpool star claims "family man" Luis Suarez "never went out" with the boys

Former Liverpool ace Stewart Downing has revealed that Luis Suarez never really socialised much with the lads during his three-and-a-half year stint on Merseyside, despite his big on-field personality.

Whether you loved him or you loathed him, Suarez was absolutely box office in English football and was never too far away from making the headlines – for better or for worse.

He netted 82 goals, was crowned PFA Player of the Year and came within inches of firing Liverpool to Premier League glory for the first time in their history, while on the flip side was embroiled in a racism scandal, was regularly accused of diving and was even caught chomping Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

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All in all, Suarez was as compelling as they come, but according to Downing, away from the pitch he was anything but.

"Luis was like two different characters, honestly," Downing told Daily Star Sport ahead of the 360 Sports TV Masters Cup. "Off the pitch he was a lovely lad. A bit quiet, literally with his wife and kids all the time.

"He didn’t come out a lot. Never really. But put him on a football pitch and he turned into a winner. He just wanted to win, he'd do anything to win, scrap and fight. Amazing player."

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The former England international shared a dressing with Suarez for a year-and-a-half and says he was struck by how down-to-earth the Uruguayan was, in spite of his radical – and often controversial – playing style.

"Suarez was pretty chilled, laid back. Everyone always asks me what was he like, he must have been crazy, but I was like he literally wasn’t. He was so placid, so laid back."

Downing also said he sees similarities between his former team-mate and Liverpool's new £85million striker Darwin Nunez.

"You see those south American players that have that little edge to them and that little spark to them. And I think this new lad [Nunez] looks the same. They’re both winners. They’ve got something about them.

"Like I say, they’ll do anything to win the game. 100 per cent."

Downing, who scored seven goals in 91 matches for the Reds, was speaking ahead of the 360 Sports TV Masters Cup, which launches on July 8, available to stream on 360 Sports TV.

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