Luis Suárez, one of the greatest strikers of his generation, left Barcelona in 2020 under circumstances that stunned the football world. His departure was not just the end of a chapter for both Suárez and Barcelona but also a reflection of the changing dynamics at one of the world’s most prestigious football clubs. He might not have left Barcelona but was forced to leave but why?
Suarez Joined from Liverpool to Barcelona in 2014
When Suárez joined Barcelona in 2014 from Liverpool, he was already a world-class forward. His arrival marked the formation of the legendary attacking trio "MSN" (Messi, Suárez, Neymar), which terrorized defenses across Europe. Suárez played a crucial role in Barcelona’s dominance, contributing significantly to their 2014-15 treble-winning season, which included a UEFA Champions League title.
Over six seasons, Suárez scored 198 goals in 283 appearances, making him the third-highest scorer in the club’s history. His partnership with Lionel Messi was especially remarkable, with the duo combining for countless goals and assists.
Yet, despite his on-field heroics and his integral role in Barcelona’s successes, Suárez was shown the door in a manner that many saw as disrespectful to his legacy. The reasons behind his departure are multifaceted, rooted in a blend of financial, managerial, and political factors.
Was Financial woes the main reason behind Suarez departure
Barcelona’s financial troubles were no secret by 2020. Years of mismanagement had left the club with a bloated wage bill and mounting debts. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the situation, slashing revenue streams like matchday income and commercial activities. The club’s financial crisis became a driving force behind many decisions during this period, including the need to offload high earners.
Luis Suárez, at 33 years old, was one of the highest-paid players in the squad. His wages were seen as unsustainable for a club struggling to balance its books. Barcelona needed to make cuts, and Suárez’s departure was identified as a way to alleviate some of the financial burden. However, this decision was driven as much by economics as by a broader vision to rejuvenate the squad.
How Koeman played an important role in the departure of Luis Suarez?
Ronald Koeman’s appointment as Barcelona’s head coach in August 2020 signalled the beginning of a new era at the club. Koeman was brought in to rebuild a team that Bayern Munich humiliated in the Champions League, suffering an 8-2 defeat. With this disaster fresh in memory, Koeman’s mission was clear: overhaul the squad and bring in fresh blood. Setien was out and Barca was desperate in need of change because 8-2 was and still today is Barcelona's biggest defeat in the Champions League ever recorded.
Koeman, backed by the board, made it clear that Suárez was not part of his plans. In what many viewed as a harsh phone call, Koeman informed Suárez that he was surplus to requirements and free to find a new club.
This decision was part of a broader strategy to refresh the squad, placing emphasis on younger, more dynamic players who could lead Barcelona into a new era. The rationale was that Suárez, despite his continued goal-scoring ability, was past his prime and could no longer lead the line as effectively as he once did.
But this has to be the most brutal sacking ever from a manager. Suarez got sacked via phone call.
How injury became a strong point in Suarez departure
While Suárez remained one of Europe’s top strikers, age and injuries were beginning to catch up with him. His knee issues, which had required surgery in January 2020, raised concerns about his long-term fitness. Barcelona’s hierarchy believed that now was the time to transition to a younger forward line, with Ansu Fati and Antoine Griezmann expected to take on more prominent roles.
From a purely sporting perspective, there was logic in this decision. Suárez’s game had always been about more than just goals; his movement, work rate, and link-up play were crucial to Barcelona’s attacking fluidity. However, as he aged, there were signs that he was losing the sharpness that had made him so lethal. His departure was seen as a way to inject fresh energy into the team.
In short, Barcelona themselves wanted to put the “young blood” in front and let the old generation sit and help the young ones to adapt and take the stage. We think Gerad Pique’s interview after the Bayern game says it all as he said“If it means for me to retire for the young blood to come forward than be it”
The Politics of Suárez’s Exit
Suárez’s exit was also shaped by internal politics at Barcelona. His close relationship with Lionel Messi, the club’s talisman, was well known. Messi and Suárez were not just teammates but close friends off the pitch. Their bond was so strong that they often vacationed together with their families.
However, by 2020, Messi’s relationship with the Barcelona board had deteriorated to the point of public confrontation. Messi was deeply unhappy with the club’s direction under then-president Josep Maria Bartomeu, and his displeasure boiled over when Suárez was forced out. Messi took to social media to criticize the decision, calling Suárez’s exit a reflection of how poorly the club was being run.
The move to push Suárez out was seen by some as an attempt to weaken Messi’s influence within the squad, as part of a broader power struggle between the board and the club’s most important player.
Suárez’s next move was surprising to many. He joined Atlético Madrid, a direct rival to Barcelona in La Liga. If Barcelona’s board believed that Suárez was past his best, he wasted no time proving them wrong. Suárez had a point to prove, and he did so in spectacular fashion. In his first season at Atlético, he scored 21 league goals, leading them to the La Liga title and proving instrumental in their success.
We can make out Lionel Messi was happy for Luis Suarez and there was something off with the club’s board because Lionel Messi was the first one to congratulate Suarez after winning the league title with Madrid, specifically pinpointing how Barca was wrong in letting him go.
His performances were a rebuke to Barcelona, showing that they may have been too hasty in discarding a player who still had much to offer. Suárez’s success at Atlético highlighted the misjudgment of those who had doubted his ability to perform at the highest level.
In conclusion, we can say that Suarez was pushed out of Barcelona rather than him leaving on his own wish, the club’s hunger to drive in young players after getting hammered so badly in the Champions League can be said what triggered this whole scenario.
The way Barcelona treated him will and always digust me