Luis Suarez was shown the door by Barcelona due to his age even though he was one of their best players. Suarez is the all time third-highest goal scorer in Barcelona’s history.
Suarez was shattered by the decision and he was welcomed by Atletico Madrid. The Uruguayan scored 21 goals helping the club to win their first La Liga title in 7 years and Barcelona has been struggling whole season which clearly shows Barcelona’s lack in judgement regarding Suarez.
Suarez said to El Partidazo about his emotions on the final day of the season, via Marca: “My tears were tears of happiness. I’m not going to go against Barcelona.”
“It was because of the situation, I’ll always be grateful to them because they’ve given me everything and allowed me to play at the elite level.”
“But the president [Josep Maria Bartomeu] said everything he spoke to the press instead of calling me. When they wanted Leo [Messi] to stay, they called me to convince him. They called me to talk to [Antoine] Griezmann… so why couldn’t they have called me when they wanted me to leave?”
“Then the coach [Ronald Koeman] came to tell me that he doesn’t have me in his plans because he wants another kind of No.9. But Koeman said ‘they told me to tell you’. After leaving me out for three games he then said ‘if things aren’t resolved, I’m going to count on you against Villarreal’. That’s when I realised that he didn’t have a lot of character. He wasn’t a coach, it all came from above.”
Suarez added: “It’s tougher [to win the La Liga with Atletico Madrid], it takes more. I realised the enthusiasm of the players here; I really enjoy seeing my teammates, because the happiness of being champions is something that makes it more special.”
“My wife was crying with me because we’ve suffered a lot with having to move our children. Money doesn’t give you happiness, and she knows about the time I spent suffering.”
“When I had to train alone at the start of the season, I had a lot of problems with my knee. I had to work hard all year and do extra things because of my knee.”
“I lost out on time with my son to take care of my knee, and my wife supported me through all of the tough times. In the end, seeing my children happy is something that I’ll never forget.”
Suarez further added: “The first time Cholo replaced me I was angry, but I was angry with myself. Against Chelsea, I did get angry with Cholo because we needed to score and he took me off.”
“But against Osasuna I scored and we were one game away from being champions. But even then I came off angry because we suffered and it was my fault. I missed three goals. I’m very self-critical. We don’t have any problems.”
Suarez concluded by commenting about Messi: “I’d be happy for him to stay, as a friend and as a fan. I’d love it, and I’d recommend that he continues at Barcelona.”
