LUIS Suarez faces the ‘Gareth Bale treatment’ at Barcelona and could face a year sidelined if he rejects an exit this summer, reports say.
The Uruguayan is not set to feature in new boss Ronald Koeman’s plans and the Dutchman is keen to get rid of him.
Sport newspaper reports on the growing tensions between Luis Suarez and Barcelona
Gareth Bale has been left sidelined at Real Madrid
If not, Suarez situation could parallel that of wantaway Welshman Gareth Bale at Real Madrid.
The ex-Spurs attacker has been almost completely sidelined and limited to very few minutes under Zinedine Zidane in the last few seasons as the club struggles to flog their £350,000-a-week star.
According to Spanish outlet Sport, Suarez could be facing the same fate if his rumoured transfer to Juventus falls through.
The striker reportedly wants to be paid the final year of his contract but Barcelona are believed to be not willing to do this.
The Old Lady were reported to be close to bringing the ex-Liverpool hitman to Turin on a discounted two-year deal worth £6million a season.
The move looked certain with reports that Suarez would even have to take a language test before his move to Italy.
But the move has stalled amid rumours that Suarez fancies a switch to La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid instead, along with the impasse over his exit terms.
Tensions continue to rise between himself and the club as Luis Suarez reportedly grows unhappy with how he is being treated.
Gareth Bale, frozen out at Madrid, has become known for his touchline antics
Part of his unease could be the abrupt one-minute phone call he had with his new gaffer last month, where he was told he could leave.
He is just one of a number players set to be axed as Koeman looks to overhaul the team following a humiliating conclusion to last season’s Champions League campaign.
The likes of Samuel Umtiti, Arturo Vidal and Martin Braithwaite are also being pushed towards the exit door.
Suarez has enjoyed six years at the club and has hit 198 goals, making him their third-highest scoring player ever.
This included his extraordinary 59 goal haul in the 2015-16 season.
Last season he managed 21 goals as Barcelona fell short in La Liga and lost out to rivals Real Madrid before their dramatic European rumbling.
Barcelona star Luis Suarez returns to training after injury
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
