Luis Suarez could earn £40million playing for Barcelona – but only if he agrees to a special ‘bite clause’.
The Spanish side are offering the Liverpool striker a five-year deal worth £160,000 a week to move to the Nou Camp.
But Barcelona chiefs are insisting that the contract contains special clauses to ensure that he behaves well both on and off the pitch.
Suarez has already been banned by FIFA for fourth months after his World Cup shame which saw him bite Italy defender Georgio Chiellini . It is the third time he has bitten an opponent in his career.
Barcelona are anxious to ensure that he behaves well – and also recognise they will need to appease some of their supporters.
Liverpool are demanding £80m while Barcelona only want to pay £50m total, which could include Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez as a £30m makeweight in the deal.
Barcelona will also back Suarez in his battle to fight the ban or have it reduced. Suarez is believed to be ready to hire top lawyer Juan De Dios Crespo who is a specialist in sporting cases.
Suarez, who maintains his innocence and claims it was an accidental clash after he lost balance, is ready to take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.