Liverpool FC: Reds to establish partnership with Nacional Sep 7 2011 by James Pearce, Liverpool EchoLIVERPOOL are set to establish a partnership with Uruguayan outfit Nacional in a bid to tap into more South American talent.
The Reds are looking to strengthen ties with the Montevideo-based club who sold them defender Sebastian Coates.
The 20-year-old centre-back completed a ÂŁ7million move to Anfield last month to link up with international team-mate Luis Suarez.
Suarez also started his career with Uruguayâs most successful club before moving to Holland to join Groningen in 2006.
Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli is keen to build on the relationship that began with negotiations over the signing of Coates.
âIâve got to thank the people from Nacional, the directors and their chairman, because they have been very helpful,â Comolli said.
âThey tried to help the player complete his will which was to come here. They tried to find a solution for us to make it happen.
âWe now have strong links with them because both Luis Suarez and Sebastian Coates have come from this club and been developed by their academy.
âWe are talking about a partnership with them that we would like to create over the next three, four or five years, to see if there is more talent coming through.
âMaybe we can help them to develop their standards and in turn have the ability to bring those young players here.â
Uruguay followed up finishing fourth at last yearâs World Cup by winning the Copa America in Argentina last month.
They boast an array of talent and Nacional have been instrumental in the nationâs rise up the FIFA rankings.
âDuring the Copa America they had 14 players out of the 23 who had at some point played at Nacional or were developed by Nacional,â Comolli added.
âThat is a fantastic record for their academy. It is very interesting for us.
âWe already have a strong link with South America through Lucas (Leiva), Maxi (Rodriguez) and Luis.
âSince itâs been such a success with Luis and Iâm sure it will be for Sebastian, why donât we try to make it an even bigger success by bringing in other players from Nacional?â
Meanwhile, Suarez insists his priority this season is firing Liverpool back into the Champions League.
The striker has enjoyed a stunning start to the campaign with three goals in four games but heâs not interested in individual milestones.
âI donât set a goals target and I never really have personal goals, just collective goals for the team,â he said.
âThat is far more important than what I do myself. It is about team targets.
âWe want to get Liverpool back into the Champions League and maybe win a cup. It might be a little bit early but if thereâs a chance to win the league, we will go for it.â
Suarez has no fears about opposing defenders doing their homework on him.
âWhen a defender studies you, it almost makes it easier because you just donât do what he expects you to,â he added.
âIf he thinks you are going to go to your right, you go to your left and so on, and you just keep switching it round so you are hard to read.
âIt keeps you on your toes but really itâs harder for the defender because he canât know what you are going to do.â
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