Spanish La Liga side Atletico Madrid have confirmed that striker Luis Suarez will leave the club, when his contract expires at the end of the current season.
The 35 year-old Uruguayan arrived in the capital from FC Barcelona last season and he inspired Los Rojiblancos to their second league title under manager Diego Simeone – seven years after the first.
The 2021/2022 season has not been as prolific like previous campaigns. His 13 goals are his lowest total since he arrived in Europe, but the same could be said for much of the Atletico Madrid team.
Ahead of Atleti’s final home game of the season, manager Diego Simeone confirmed not only that Suarez would be leaving but that it had been agreed for some time, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.
Simeone revealed: “I had a chat with Luis in November, in the middle of it. A long chat, hard, honest, where both sides could speak about what they saw ahead and in the present and what was necessary to compete and what was necessary from him.”
“From that chat until today, each from their position respected everything we discussed and that doesn’t happen often. For that reason I am grateful to Luis Suarez, because the past season he was tremendous and this one he continues to be our goal-scorer. He will play tomorrow and to the people that behave like Luis, I always say ‘chapeau’.”
Simeone and Suarez always seemed like a match made in heaven in terms of character and so it was. The Uruguayan will leave the Wanda Metropolitano with his head held high after his historic league win last year.
The Atletico Madrid fans have asked the club for Suarez to be given a plaque outside the stadium, even though he wouldn’t traditionally qualify for the honour.
The Spanish giants also announced that Hector Herrera will be quitting the club as well. Both Suarez and Herrera will say their goodbyes to the fans during their final home game for against Sevilla on Sunday evening.
Apex Football News 