Jamie Carragher acknowledged the fact that Liverpool cannot hang on to Luis Suarez, purely because of the loyalty shown by the club and the fans towards the Uruguayan international, and the Reds have to consider selling the player to Real Madrid if an appropriate offer was to be put on the table.
Suarez has made his intentions clear on leaving Liverpool this summer, after being disillusioned by the way he has been treated by the English media and the English Premier League in general.
Real Madrid are thought to be interested in the 26-year-old's services and Suarez has admitted he would find it difficult to turn down a move to the Bernabeu.
Carragher, who retired last season after spending his entire career with Liverpool, believes loyalty should not be the reason why Suarez should stay with the club next season.
"Luis Suarez can't stay at Liverpool forever just because they've supported him in certain situations," he is quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
"Liverpool were right to support him because he's their player but if he wasn't a very good player and wasn't producing on the pitch then Liverpool would sell him. Are they being loyal to a player if they sell him?
"I don't think Luis can be held to the club forever because they've stood by him in certain situations. You could argue that after the racism situation with (Patrice) Evra then he stayed last year because I'm sure he would have had offers last summer.
"I think loyalty in football, from both sides, is overplayed a bit. Basically Liverpool are loyal to Luis Suarez because he's such a good player and Luis has got to think of his own career and what he wants to achieve.
"I don't think that should really come into it or cloud people's judgments of what Luis should do."
Carragher said Liverpool, who have come out and insisted Suarez is not for sale, will hold the upperhand in any negotiations, after the striker signed a long-term deal last year.
"He's under contract," Carragher added. "He signed a contract 12 months ago, so if Liverpool really want to keep him then they can. I don't think it would affect the price if they sold him a year later.
"Liverpool were always going to be in this situation. Luis Suarez is playing for a team that's seventh in the Premier League and he's one of the best players in world football, so it would be pretty naive of us to feel that no club would be showing any interest in him.
"The manager, Ian Ayre and the owners knew other clubs would come calling for Luis Suarez and that's what's happened. If they look at a figure that's acceptable he can move on or if they want to keep Suarez because he's their best player then it's in their hands.
"As much as it's in Luis' court, it's in Liverpool's court to decide what they want to do -- whether they want to keep the player or cash in on him."
Carragher also insisted the Liverpool supporters would welcome back Suarez, despite the comments, if Brendan Rodgers decides to keep him at Anfield for next season.
"You know the type of player he is. Real Madrid is a massive club and they're in the Champions League but he loves Liverpool and he loves playing for Liverpool," Carragher added.
"But Liverpool can't just accept Luis Suarez going. If you want him you've got to pay top dollar for him so they will reinvest.
"I don't think he's said anything too bad. He got a bit carried away with his comments, but he hasn't said anything derogatory about Liverpool. He has said he's interested in going to Real Madrid -- and we all know he'd think that privately, as any player would.
"I wouldn't get too carried away with the situation with Luis. He made some comments in Uruguay and was a bit naïve to think they wouldn't come back here, but he hasn't said anything too bad that can't be sorted out when he comes back here.
"The Liverpool supporters would love him to stay, of course they would."
