Luis Suárez close to Nacional return
Luis Suárez left Nacional in 2006 to seek fame and fortune in Europe, and now he is close to agreeing a deal to rejoin his first club.
Luis Suárez is set to give an answer to Nacional as the Uruguay legend considers rejoining the club where he began his celebrated career. After 16 years away from the Montevideo-based club, the former Liverpool, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid striker has been offered the chance to return to Nacional.
A free agent after leaving Atlético, Suárez has also been linked in media reports with German club Borussia Dortmund, and there may be interest from within Major League Soccer. However, Nacional are hoping the prospect of a move back to the club where his goal scoring prowess first came to the fore will appeal to the 35-year-old player.
Nacional for a reply from Luis Suárez
Nacional president José Fuentes told Uruguayan broadcaster Sport 890 on Friday: “I am waiting as we had agreed that in two or three days he would answer me. This was Wednesday and we are within the two or three days that we agreed. At this time I do not have any confirmation from Luis Suárez.” Fuentes added that he was perturbed by reports that considered it a done deal, saying the rush for a news scoop “sometimes damages the negotiation or the conversations”.
His update followed club director Gonzalo Lucas saying on Thursday that the deal was “a probability” but not yet closed. “I think that Suárez is the best footballer in the history of Uruguayan football,” Lucas said. “It’s like a fairy tale, and we have to protect him so that he has a happy ending.” Many Nacional fans wore Suárez masks at Thursday’s game against Cerrito as they welcomed the prospect of his possible return.
Suárez emerged as a teenage forward of considerable promise with Nacional before being signed by Dutch team Groningen, with his career then taking him to Ajax prior to his successful spells in the Premier League and LaLiga. He sits third on the list of Barcelona’s all-time top scorers, with a haul of 198 goals putting him behind clear leader Lionel Messi and second-placed César Rodríguez. With Uruguay, Suárez has scored 68 goals in 132 international games, helping the team to win the 2011 Copa América and featuring at three World Cup finals.