Luis Suarez confirms retirement plan just weeks after emotional Messi reunion
Luis Suarez has confirmed he will end his career at Inter Miami, just weeks after completing his move to the Major League Soccer club.
Uruguay international Suarez has yet to make his MLS debut, having arrived from Gremio in the close-season. However, he has reunited with former Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi in pre-season action ahead of the pair sharing a pitch for the upcoming campaign.
The David Beckham-owned club signed Messi midway through the 2023 campaign, also appointing former Barca boss Tata Martino as their manager. The combination wasn't enough to deliver a spot in the end-of-season playoffs, though, as they failed to recover from their slow start under previous boss Phil Neville.
Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba will also have a part to play for Inter Miami in 2024, with their season getting underway against Real Salt Lake on February 21. For Suarez, though, it looks set to be a short-lived affair.
“Yes, I cannot be more sincere and the family already knows," Suarez told Uruguayan radio (via Diario AS). "The date is not yet set, but this is the last step.
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"I am prepared for this last challenge but it is also exhausting and I have to think about having a quality of life afterwards," he added. Suarez also appeared to rule out a move into the dugout once he takes the decision to hang up his boots.
“I don’t want to do it, it’s worse than being a player," he said of the prospect of turning to management. "Because of the hours of work, it requires more time.”
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Messi and Suarez have been reunited after playing together previously with Barcelona (Getty Images)Ahead of Suarez's move to Miami, some reports suggested he would sign a one-year deal with an option for a second year. In the club's announcement, though, there was no mention of that second season.
“We are delighted to have a player of Luis’ quality and passion for the game join our Club," president and co-owner Beckham said of the deal. "He joins a squad that is inspiring the next generation and we look forward to seeing him take to the field with both former teammates and young players from our Academy.”
Suarez, who turned 37 in January, needs 11 more club goals to bring up 500 for his career. Some 198 of those came in Barcelona colours, including 59 in just 53 appearances in the 2015-16 season.
He is also one of Uruguay's most-capped players, and was part of the squad eliminated in the group stages at the 2022 World Cup. He is expected to represent his country at the 2024 Copa America, where they will face the United States, Panama and Bolivia in the group stage.
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