Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has revealed the hard times he had to endure growing up in Uruguay.
Suarez arrived at Liverpool from Ajax in January but the glamour associated with the move was far removed from the harsh realities of life for the 24-year-old when growing up.
In comments reported on Liverpool Echo, he revealed: "I had a really hard time growing up.
"As you can imagine coming from a large family [he was one of seven brothers raised by a single mother], we did not have many resources at home, which meant we had to carry on with a very normal life, full of sacrifices.
"When I was seven I moved to Montevideo, where my football career began. That was the first big change in my life, and since then I have faced many other big changes.
"I started playing football when I was very young and by the age of four I would run faster with the ball than without it."
Suarez's first break came when he was called up for a national youth camp in Argentina. He could not afford to go.
"All my dreams had come true but it was too expensive so I had to decline because I didn't even have enough money to buy a pair of shoes," he said.
"It wasn't until I was 14 that I started playing football seriously when I was selected by Nacional de Montevideo."
After winning the domestic title with Nacional in 2006, Suarez moved to Holland with Groningen - in order to be closer to his then girlfriend (now wife) Sofia.
"My happiness [after winning the title with Nacional] was not complete," Suarez revealed.
"Sofia and I had to continue a long distance relationship for a year. Despite this complication I could not give up on our relationship and when I got a call to play in Europe I didn't think twice.
"The only thing I thought about was being by her side again. That's how my European adventure started.
"I went to play for Groningen in the Netherlands when I was only 19 but I had the girl of my life Sofia back next to me.
"At the beginning it was not easy at all. At that time I was not able to speak Dutch or English and communicating was incredibly hard. To add to this I needed some time to adjust to the Dutch league and I had to play with the second team of Groningen."
Soon he moved up to the first team and scored 17 goals in 37 games as Gronigen reached eighth in the Dutch Eredivisie.
It was then that Dutch behemoths Ajax earmarked him as the player to replace Ryan Babel who had left for Liverpool. He completed the move in August 2007.
"It was a dream come true and a huge step forward in my career," he said. "Of course without thinking twice, I moved to Amsterdam."
From Amsterdam to Anfield has been but one more step up the ladder for Suarez. From the streets of Uruguay to the spotlights of Anfield - it has been one dizzying climb for the boy who could not afford shoes.
Suarez arrived at Liverpool from Ajax in January but the glamour associated with the move was far removed from the harsh realities of life for the 24-year-old when growing up.
In comments reported on Liverpool Echo, he revealed: "I had a really hard time growing up.
"As you can imagine coming from a large family [he was one of seven brothers raised by a single mother], we did not have many resources at home, which meant we had to carry on with a very normal life, full of sacrifices.
"When I was seven I moved to Montevideo, where my football career began. That was the first big change in my life, and since then I have faced many other big changes.
"I started playing football when I was very young and by the age of four I would run faster with the ball than without it."
Suarez's first break came when he was called up for a national youth camp in Argentina. He could not afford to go.
"All my dreams had come true but it was too expensive so I had to decline because I didn't even have enough money to buy a pair of shoes," he said.
"It wasn't until I was 14 that I started playing football seriously when I was selected by Nacional de Montevideo."
After winning the domestic title with Nacional in 2006, Suarez moved to Holland with Groningen - in order to be closer to his then girlfriend (now wife) Sofia.
"My happiness [after winning the title with Nacional] was not complete," Suarez revealed.
"Sofia and I had to continue a long distance relationship for a year. Despite this complication I could not give up on our relationship and when I got a call to play in Europe I didn't think twice.
"The only thing I thought about was being by her side again. That's how my European adventure started.
"I went to play for Groningen in the Netherlands when I was only 19 but I had the girl of my life Sofia back next to me.
"At the beginning it was not easy at all. At that time I was not able to speak Dutch or English and communicating was incredibly hard. To add to this I needed some time to adjust to the Dutch league and I had to play with the second team of Groningen."
Soon he moved up to the first team and scored 17 goals in 37 games as Gronigen reached eighth in the Dutch Eredivisie.
It was then that Dutch behemoths Ajax earmarked him as the player to replace Ryan Babel who had left for Liverpool. He completed the move in August 2007.
"It was a dream come true and a huge step forward in my career," he said. "Of course without thinking twice, I moved to Amsterdam."
From Amsterdam to Anfield has been but one more step up the ladder for Suarez. From the streets of Uruguay to the spotlights of Anfield - it has been one dizzying climb for the boy who could not afford shoes.
