LUIS SUAREZ broke down in tears while bidding farewell to Barcelona “as a human being” on Thursday.
Atletico Madrid have signed the striker who spent six years at the Camp Nou, winning 13 trophies.
Luis Suarez spoke to reporters as a Barcelona player for the final time on ThursdayCredit: Barcelona FC
The striker was visibly moved as he bid farewell to the BlaugranaCredit: Barcelona FC
After his transfer was confirmed, Suarez said his goodbyes in a press conference where he appeared visibly upset to be leaving.
The 33-year-old stopped to calm himself a number of times as he spoke, and started by thanking Barcelona for their faith in him from day one.
Arriving under a four-month suspension for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup, Suarez was taken aback by the way his new colleagues accepted him.
He stated: “This is such a surprise, I didn’t really have anything prepared.
“I just want to say the club has always had so much confidence in me since 2014 when they signed me.
“In the conditions that I came here, surrounding me from the mistake that I made with the confidence they had in me, it wasn’t easy to accept.
“The coaches and my team-mates, the way they accepted me when I came, it was amazing.”
Speculation over Suarez’s future has been rampant since new coach Ronald Koeman told him he was no longer needed in Barcelona.
Barcelona sell Suarez amid their attempts to cut their mammoth wage bill
The Uruguayan was reportedly angry over the nature of his exit and insisted that there is a “human being” behind every transfer story.
He continued: “I am very proud of this ending.
“I take friends with me and that leaves me happy. It is not just a player who leaves, but a human being who has feelings.”
He added: “It has been crazy. Things have been leaked, things have been invented – it angers you, but you have to try to stay away from everything.”
Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi is one of the close pals Suarez leaves behind in Catalonia.
The pair were close neighbours and took their families on holiday together, but are now competitors for the LaLiga title.
Suarez leaves behind close friend Lionel Messi at the Camp NouCredit: EPA
The Uruguay international won several major honours in BarcelonaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
And Suarez insists it will not be a problem for them to go face-to-face.
The ex-Liverpool star added: “We know each other well, he knows what I think and we are old enough to give each other advice.
“We will see what happens in the future.
“I have already played against him with Argentina, facing each other will not change the feelings we have.”
Suarez said that he expected Koeman’s decision to move him on and that he bears no grudges against the club.
He noted: “I expected it, it had already been suggested it before he told me.
It sounds ironic … but when Barcelona put me on the market there were many calls, many offers.
“I had no problem taking a step to the side, but I wanted to continue training while looking for a solution. Koeman agreed with that.
“Sometimes the club needs changes and the coach did not count on me.
“I leave feeling that I have fulfilled [my role], being the third top scorer of the club is not easy.”
Suarez leaves Barcelona for an Atletico side with ambitions of finally securing a Champions League crown, as well as formulating another LaLiga title push.
With 21 goals to his name last season, the forward is far from a spent force and he hopes to continue collecting silverware in Madrid.
He said: “It sounds ironic but when Barcelona put me on the market there were many calls, many offers.
“I wanted a team where I could compete with Barcelona and Real Madrid.
“I am looking forward to a very competitive team that always goes to the end, fighting for the league. I want to help the team continue to grow and achieve something important.”
Luis Suarez breaks down in tears while leaving Barcelona training for ‘last time’ as Atletico transfer ‘confirmed’
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
