01 January 2023 , 09:01
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Ex-Barcelona forward Luis Suarez has signed for Brazil side Gremio on a two-year deal.
The 35-year-old was heavily linked with a move to David Beckham's Inter Miami in 2023 but Suarez has put pen to paper on a switch nearer to his homeland instead. According to GOAL, the Uruguayan reportedly rejected offers from Saudi Arabia and MLS to join Gremio following a short stint at Nacional.
This has put a slight dent in Beckham's supposed plan to reunite three former Barcelona stars in the form of Suarez, Cesc Fabregas and Lionel Messi, as per the Times back in November. The report claimed that Messi was on the verge of sealing a blockbuster move to Inter Miami, while Beckham was eying up Fabregas and Suarez.
However, the proposed switch for Suarez is no longer on, for the time being anyway given he has just signed for Gremio, who were relegated to Serie B last season. They will be hoping for an instant return to the top division of Brazilian football with Suarez in their ranks, and face SER Caxias do Sul in their opening game on January 21, where the former Liverpool frontman could make his competitive debut.
As for Beckham, it is understood he is still chasing Messi's signature after the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner lifted the World Cup with Argentina for the first time last month. Messi scored seven goals at the tournament and helped his side beat France on penalties in the final at Lusail Stadium following an entertaining 3-3 draw after extra-time.
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The 35-year-old has been urged to continue playing for Argentina after the World Cup, but it is his club future that is more in doubt given his Paris Saint-Germain contract runs out at the end of the season. Beckham is plotting to hand Messi a lucrative contract and lure him away from Europe for the first time in his career.
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Lionel Messi in action at the World Cup (Getty Images)The deal would see the Argentine become the highest-paid player in the history of Major League Soccer, with Miami chiefs increasingly confident an agreement will be reached. Beckham has long touted the prospect of a superstar like Messi joining his MLS franchise, while Messi himself has admitted he would be keen to play in the U.S before his career comes to an end.
Meanwhile, Beckham could be in line to swoop for yet another Barcelona legend in the form of Sergio Busquets, as reports in November claimed that he had agreed a deal to join Inter Miami at the end of the campaign. The 34-year-old has already confirmed he will be leaving the Nou Camp at the end of his contract in June.
Inter Miami's competitive season doesn't start until February 26 when they take on Montreal. Ex-Chelsea and Inter Milan forward Gonzalo Higuain is arguably the biggest name in their ranks, while Kieran Gibbs and DeAndre Yedlin also ply their trade out at Beckham's franchise side.