Analysis: Where will Luis Suárez play for Inter Miami?

Luis Suárez’ first training session as an Inter Miami player ended with some bold words in front of a packed media room. His reunion with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba has further heightened expectation in South Florida and the Uruguayan insisted that he is targeting four titles this year.

He said: “I am motivated by the challenge of wanting to fulfill what the club wants this year, which is try to win MLS, with the professionalism to try to perform, to do what they expect from me.”

“We are very ambitious, very professional, and committed to teaching Inter Miami’s great young talents that age does not matter, but rather the commitment to sacrifice that you have within you, on the field and off.”

Suárez added that he had been drawn to Inter Miami by the offer of “a new challenge, a new team” and he too has experience plenty of change in recent seasons. In 2020 he left Barcelona after six trophy-laden seasons, going on to lead Atlético Madrid to the La Liga title. He spent a brief spell with Nacional before signing for Grêmio and firing them to the Brazilian league title last year.

We take a look how the 36-year-old has altered his game in recent seasons, and how he could change again to provide the firepower than Inter Miami have been missing.

How has Luis Suárez changed his style of play?

As well as his obvious technical qualities and famous competitive instinct, Suárez is also impressively versatile and has undergone dramatic changes over the course of his career. During his time with Ajax and Liverpool he was often fielded as a winger, making use of his pace and dribbling ability to influence the game from out wide.

Since moving to Barcelona he has become a designated number nine, but even within that description he has fulfilled a few different roles. In three seasons with Barcelona, Atlético Madrid and Grêmio he has fulfilled very different functions from that central position, helping each team to a league title.

With thanks to our friends at BeSoccer, here’s a look at how Suárez’ output has changed at each club...

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In his final season at Camp Nou Suárez fired Barcelona to the league title playing as a complete forward, providing goals and assists while occupying defences with his dribbling and clever off-the-ball movement.

After moving to Atlético Madrid he become more of an old-school striker, becoming more clinical when chances arrived and greatly increasing his aerial performance.

Most recently he starred for Grêmio and became the offensive fulcrum of a title-winning side. He was more involved in the build-up play and took more touches in the box than in previous seasons.

Above all, those recent performances show Suárez’ willingness and ability to alter his game to suit his team’s requirements. While some forwards struggle to adapt to a loss of pace as they age, Suárez has simply shifted his playing style to make the most of his technical abilities. Now, reunited with his long-time partner, we could see another iteration of Luis Suárez.

Where will Luis Suárez play for Inter Miami?

As Inter Miami return to the training field ahead of a busy pre-season fixture list, head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino outlined a key priority for the season: getting the best out of Lionel Messi.

“We have to try to find ways of playing where the versions, especially in this case of Leo, can be the best, without trying to improve him individually,” Martino explained. “Probably the question is about assembling the team, that is, finding an even better version through the rest of the players.”

Suárez’ arrival brings some much-needed cutting edge to the Herons’ forward line and reunites Messi with a close friend and former teammate. The duo hit their peak together in Barcelona’s 2014/15 season when they won the treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League. That season saw Suárez play as a central striker with Messi on the right and a young Neymar Jr on the opposite flank.

Eight years on, Martino could look to recreate that dynamic at Inter Miami.

Messi looks set to continue on the right for Miami, the position where he featured for almost of his 2023 appearances for the club. Suárez will almost certainly lead the line and can use his impressive range of talents - evidenced by the different roles fulfilled for different teams - to help get the best out of Messi.

Alongside the two aging stars there is an opening on the left for a more dynamic presence like young Facundo Farias or the industrious Julian Gressel, providing the crucial contrast that Neymar brought to that iconic Barcelona side. Messi and Suarez can function as a duo, with Messi drifting inside, while the left forward acts as an ‘out ball’ to prevent Miami becoming too predictable.

Both now in the twilight of their careers, neither Messi nor Suárez are the same players that conquered the world with Barça. But their enduring quality and innate chemistry could prove the difference as Inter Miami look to dominate US soccer in 2024.