Cape Town - Luis Suarez has revealed he feared his infamous bite on Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup would ruin his chances of joining Barcelona.
The Uruguay international was slapped with a four-month ban from all footballing activities by FIFA after biting the shoulder of the Italy defender during a group-stage clash at this year' Brazil showpiece.
The incident was the third of its kind involving Suarez, who had previously performed the act while playing for Ajax and Liverpool, and although his switch from Anfield to the Nou Camp eventually went through, he admits he thought any chance of a move had been ended.
"I thought that I had ruined my career," Suarez told TV3.
"At first, I wanted nothing to do with anyone. I shut me and my family away from the world, but upon reflection, I asked for forgiveness and I felt liberated.
"By then, the initial contacts with Barcelona had begun and when Pere [Guardiola, his agent] called me to tell me that it was a done deal, I started crying, because of the situation I was going through and for the support Barcelona was offering me.
"I felt so happy with the commitment the club showed with me.
"I was afraid Barcelona were going to back off, due to the repercussions surrounding the incident; I was conscious of the fact that this could happen."
The FIFA ban meant Suarez had to train by himself, away from Barca and his new team-mates, and the 27-year-old admits it was a difficult period to accept.
"I started training in the gym, I avoided the cameras and the paparazzi; it was a very difficult time because I didn't feel like a professional, I thought I was in hiding, that I was doing something I shouldn't, but all of this was because of an error that I made, I accepted responsibility and the criticism that came with it," he added.
Suarez's ban is set to end in the coming days, and the striker may get the chance to feature in the first El Clasico of the season as Barca gear up for this Saturday's trip to bitter rivals Real Madrid.
The Uruguay international was slapped with a four-month ban from all footballing activities by FIFA after biting the shoulder of the Italy defender during a group-stage clash at this year' Brazil showpiece.
The incident was the third of its kind involving Suarez, who had previously performed the act while playing for Ajax and Liverpool, and although his switch from Anfield to the Nou Camp eventually went through, he admits he thought any chance of a move had been ended.
"I thought that I had ruined my career," Suarez told TV3.
"At first, I wanted nothing to do with anyone. I shut me and my family away from the world, but upon reflection, I asked for forgiveness and I felt liberated.
"By then, the initial contacts with Barcelona had begun and when Pere [Guardiola, his agent] called me to tell me that it was a done deal, I started crying, because of the situation I was going through and for the support Barcelona was offering me.
"I felt so happy with the commitment the club showed with me.
"I was afraid Barcelona were going to back off, due to the repercussions surrounding the incident; I was conscious of the fact that this could happen."
The FIFA ban meant Suarez had to train by himself, away from Barca and his new team-mates, and the 27-year-old admits it was a difficult period to accept.
"I started training in the gym, I avoided the cameras and the paparazzi; it was a very difficult time because I didn't feel like a professional, I thought I was in hiding, that I was doing something I shouldn't, but all of this was because of an error that I made, I accepted responsibility and the criticism that came with it," he added.
Suarez's ban is set to end in the coming days, and the striker may get the chance to feature in the first El Clasico of the season as Barca gear up for this Saturday's trip to bitter rivals Real Madrid.