According to Tuttosport, as cited by Express, FC Barcelona had offered Juventus Luis Suarez in an attempt to sway them off from signing Neymar. It was believed that the Italian giants had joined Real Madrid and Barcelona in the race to sign the unsettled PSG superstar this summer. However, it seems like the Blaugrana are even willing to offload star player Suarez in favour of the return of their prodigal son.
Luis Suarez’s successful spell at Barcelona
Suarez initially joined Barcelona back in 2014, in an €81 million move from Liverpool. He was one of Premier League’s most successful strikers, prior to his move to Spain, having scored an impressive 69 goals in just 110 top-flight matches in England.
Suarez replicated his performances in La Liga as well, plundering 131 goals in 164 games. He has an excellent scoring record with Barcelona, netting 177 goals in 248 competitive matches.
During his ongoing five year spell in Catalonia, the Uruguayan international has won four Spanish league titles, four Spanish Cups and a Champions League. He is one of the best strikers in Uruguay’s footballing history, winning 111 caps and scoring 58 goals.
Does Suarez have a future at Barcelona?
After an incredible 2015/16 campaign, where he scored 40 league goals, Suarez’s scoring statistics have gradually decreased. He scored 21 goals in 33 matches last season, which is still an impressive tally for any top-class striker in Europe.
But, the ex-Ajax forward often struggled with fitness and his deterioration has been evident, to an extent. While there is no doubt he will remain Barcelona’s main number nine, it’s probably fair to point out that the Uruguayan, at the age of 32, is slowly nearing the end of his career. Hence, he cannot be considered as a long-term option for the Spanish champions.
Why Suarez’s departure makes sense
Suarez’s proposed move to Juventus could make a world of sense for Barcelona. Firstly, it will help them clear out a chunk of their wage budget, allowing them to fund a move for Neymar. But most importantly, it will open up a vacancy in the attack, making it easier for Valverde to accomodate the likes of Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Neymar into the starting lineup.
Griezmann, in particular, could operate as the false nine, with Neymar and Messi operating on the flanks. The Frenchman has the experience of playing in that role during his time at Atletico Madrid. And given his age and tactical versatility, he could fit in perfectly well, should Suarez depart the club this summer.
