BRAZIL
Luis Suárez signs off with goal as Inter Miami awaits
El Pistolero scored once again in his farewell game with Grêmio, which secured them fourth place and direct qualification to the Copa Libertadores.
As the days go by, Inter Miami is marking off dates on its calendar, eagerly anticipating the start of the 2024 season. Meanwhile, the club’s management is watching with keen interest and rubbing their hands together as they witness the recent performances of their new star, Luis Suárez. The man known as El Pistolero, due to his prolific shooting ability, scored the only goal for Grêmio in the victory against Vasco da Gama in a match that felt more like a farewell than anything else. In his final game at home, the Gaúcho fans bid farewell to their idol with applause and ovations because, as previously reported exclusively by this newspaper, the arrival of the ‘charrúa’ in Miami is being prepared.
Suárez bids Grêmio appropriate adios
Suárez delivered another remarkable performance in his farewell and tribute match at the Arena do Grêmio. The Tricolor will bid farewell to an idol at the end of this season, and he was duly recognized as such, receiving an incredible ovation at the end of the game, visibly affecting him. In Brazil, the ‘charrúa’ once again proved to be one of the continent’s most in-form strikers, silencing those critics who had prematurely written him off. Additionally, he earned a well-deserved return to the Celeste under the guidance of Marcelo Bielsa.
With one matchday remaining in the Brasileirão, the former Ajax, Liverpool and Barcelona man will depart like a matador, leaving the Arena do Grêmio on the shoulders of adoring fans. A fitting tribute. The Uruguayan leaves the club with tasks accomplished, securing qualification for the next edition of the Copa Libertadores with one matchday to spare, and against the current South American champion, Fluminense. In less than a year, Suárez has reignited the team’s enthusiasm, which had spent a year in the Brazilian Serie B, despite winning the Libertadores almost seven years ago. Suárez departs with a tally of 27 goals, 17 assists, and two titles in 53 games played.
Inter Miami and Messi await their latest star
Further north on the continent, Inter Miami continues to witness the fierce goal-scoring prowess of their soon-to-be new striker with each passing game. Suárez will arrive to complement a team with aspirations for success, also becoming the new franchise player for the club. Currently, the Miami squad is on vacation until nearer the end of the month when they will return to the Florida Blue Training Center to kick off the preseason.
When do Inter Miami return to action?
Starting in January, the Herons will begin preseason matches, with an initial friendly scheduled against El Salvador on 19 January, followed by games against Newell’s and River Plate in Argentina, with a date to be confirmed. It is expected that Tata Martino’s team will confirm more matches as the days and weeks progress towards the end of the year.
However, the more experienced players along with the new additions will have a couple of weeks to assimilate ideas before kicking off the mini continental tour.