The word ‘LEGEND’ is often overused in football as fans and pundits throw around this word whenever a player performs for a few games. However, in reality, only a few players earn the title of a ‘LEGEND’.
The hardest moment for a football fan is to watch a club legend say goodbye to their club. Just a month back, cules almost saw their club’s greatest player ever leave the club. Messi sent a burofax to the club stating his desire to leave the club as he wasn’t convinced with the club’s sporting project. But a few days later, he decided to stay.
Yesterday, Barcelona announced that they have reached an agreement with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of Luis Suarez for 6 million euros. Suarez was told by Barcelona’s new manager Ronald Koeman that he is not in his plans for the 2020/21 season and was told to find a new club. After, six successful seasons, Barcelona legend Luis Suarez will not wear the Blaugrana colours. He leaves the club as their third-highest scorer ever behind Lionel Messi and Cesar Rodriguez with 198 goals from 283 games. His heartbreaking departure will surely leave the fans countless memories for the decades to come.
Early years
Luis Alberto Suarez Diaz, nicknamed ‘El Pistolero’ started his footballing career at Nacional before moving to Groningen. After a successful season at Groningen, he was spotted by Dutch giants Ajax and signed for them in 2007. He spent four seasons at Ajax, scoring 111 goals from 159 appearances. In 2011, he left for Liverpool and remained there for four years, winning several individual accolades. In 2014, he joined FC Barcelona after a nearly won Premier League campaign with Liverpool.
Golden season: 2014/15
Luis Suarez made his debut in October due to FIFA’s ban for the Chiellini debacle in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Barcelona won all trophies that season and even went into the final of the Champions League. The Catalans faced Italian giants Juventus in the final. Luis Suarez scored Barcelona’s second goal putting them back in the lead. Barcelona went on to win the final by 3-1 scoreline. He ended the season with 25 goals and 20 assists. Barcelona won the second treble of their history, becoming the first team to do so.
Peak years: 2014-18
After winning the treble with Barcelona in his first season, Suarez went into the 2015-16 season will full of confidence. He formed a formidable trio with Messi and Neymar ‘MSN’. The trio is still considered to be one of the greatest attacking trios of all time. In the 2015-16 season, Suarez helped Barcelona win the domestic double as the Catalans won La Liga and the Copa del Rey. He scored 59 goals in that campaign from 53 games and won the Golden Boot, the only player to do so in the Messi-Ronaldo era. Next season, Barcelona were reduced to just a Copa del Rey trophy as Real Madrid won the Champions League, La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup.
Ernesto Valverde was appointed the new manager and Neymar left the club for PSG in 2017. Suarez scored 31 goals in Valverde’s first season as the club won a domestic double.
Later years: 2018-20
Suarez’s form dipped after 2018, but despite that, he remained Barcelona’s biggest threat inside the box. His clever movements created space for Messi to exploit and score. His ability to score from unreal situations, made his an undisputed starter for Barcelona, despite the dip in form and athleticism. Barcelona won La Liga title in 2018-19 as Suarez scored 25 goals. In 2019-20 season, Valverde was sacked mid-season and Quique Setien was appointed. Barcelona ended the season with a humiliating loss against Bayern Munich and Setien was sacked. Suarez scored just 21 goals and also struggled with injuries. Barcelona ended the season trophyless for the first time since 2007-08.
Suarez’s exit will surely be a dramatic one but it had to come. He did his press conference on Thursday and was seen crying in between. This goes on to show how much he loved the club. Due to the Barcelona board’s mismanagement and the ongoing pandemic, he hasn’t got a proper send-off, which he surely deserved. He will not get a standing ovation at the Camp Nou but one thing that he has earned is appreciation from all Barcelona fans around the world. Suarez leaves Barcelona as a club legend, someone who will be missed forever!
“Thank you to all the fans for everything they have done, for all their support, for cheering me on from day one. For the support from everyone inside the Camp Nou. This is so important to me and will always stay with me. I want all the cules to know, I will always be one more cule, no matter where I am.” - Suarez
LUIS SUAREZ: Warrior, Hero, Legend! Good luck with the new venture at Atletico.
