The 34-year-old did not want to leave the Camp Nou at the start of the campaign, but it was clear to the Blaugrana that they wanted him gone.
Suarez’s tears were tears of happiness
Luis Suarez has been reflecting on the 2020/21 season, with the Uruguayan having won the LaLiga title with Atletico Madrid after being forced out of Barcelona. The 34-year-old did not want to leave the Camp Nou at the start of the campaign, but it was clear to the Blaugrana that they wanted him gone. So he went on to join Diego Simeone’s Rojiblancos, where the No.9 went on to win yet another title. “My tears were tears of happiness,” Suarez told reporters of his emotions on the final day of the season. “I’m not going to go against Barcelona. It was because of the situation, and I will always be grateful to them because they gave me everything and allowed me to play at an elite level.”
The striker realised that Koeman didn’t have that much character
“But President Josep Maria Bartomeu said everything he spoke to the press instead of calling me. When they wanted Lionel Messi to stay, they called me to convince him. They called me to talk to Antoine Griezmann. So why couldn’t they call me when they wanted me to leave? Then the coach Ronald Koeman came to tell me that he didn’t have me in his plans because he wanted a different look for No.9. But Koeman said, ‘They told me to tell you’. After he left me for three games, he said: “If things aren’t resolved, I’m going to count on you against Villarreal. Then I realised that he didn’t have that much character. He was not a coach; everything went from above.”
Less than a year later, Suarez has again been crowned champion of Spain, but he says winning the LaLiga title with Atletico is more challenging than it was at Barcelona. It’s tougher; you need more,” said Suarez. “I understand the enthusiasm of the players here; I enjoy seeing my teammates because the happiness of being champions is what makes it so special.”