LUIS SUAREZ is open to trying to persuade best pal Lionel Messi to sensationally quit Barcelona and join him at Atletico Madrid.
The Uruguayan former Liverpool striker was frozen out at Barca and ended up joining LaLiga rivals Atletico in the summer.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez could be reunited at Atletico Madrid – if the Uruguayan gets his wayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Argentine superstar Messi is set to quit the Nou Camp when his contract ends in May – but Manchester City remain favourites to sign the 33-year-old six-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Suarez’ transfer, including an on-off switch to Juventus which ended in up with the Serie A giants pulling the plug, infuriated Messi, who has built up a long-standing friendship with his fellow South American.
The pair clicked soon after Suarez, 33, joined Barca from the Reds in 2014.
Suarez has suggested he might try and convince Messi to join his fellow Argentine Diego Simeone in the Spanish capital – although he admits he does not know where the little maestro will be playing his football next term.
In an interview with Madrid newspaper AS, Suarez said: “I’ll always say it, Leo is mature enough to make the decisions he has to make.
“I will never ask him anything, on the contrary, I will always defend that where he is happy, he is happy, that he make the decision he makes.
“If at some point the possibility comes up, then let him know, obviously I’m going to speak wonders of the club.
“But later, when it comes to raising something, I think it is he who has to decide and where he is happy will be the best.
“He is 33 years old and knows how to deal with every situation. I see him with the same enthusiasm that I saw him before.
“Enjoying and not lowering your arms, which is important. Because, although sometimes the ball does not want to enter, it keeps trying. That says a lot about him.”
Suarez and Messi have been close friends for six years.
Even their partners are close and the two families have been known to holiday together.
But one stumbling block could be Atletico’s inability to put together a mega-money financial package to convince Messi – with City ready to pay millions to reunited the Argentine with his old Barca boss Pep Guardiola.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu defends role in Lionel Messi transfer saga
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
