MLS
“Problematic” Suárez’s links to Inter Miami “like a Mexican soap opera”
Luis Suárez’s coach at Grêmio confirmed that the contacts between the player and Inter Miami are real. He came to compare the situation with a “Mexican soap opera.”
Luis Suárez has become one of the most recent stars of the transfer market “soap opera”. The Uruguayan striker has reportedly “accepted” an offer from MLS club Inter Miami to join former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba in Florida, although that hasn’t gone down especially well with current club Grêmio, as you might imagine.
Inter Miami: plans A and B to sign Súarez
While the Herons want Suárez and vice versa, the Brazilian club aren’t willing to sell the veteran attacker unless his $70 million release clause is paid in full. Despite the 36-year-old’s attempts to force a move this summer, Inter Miami also have an alternative plan to sign him at the end of the year if they are unable to reach an agreement in the current transfer window.
In the midst of the speculation, Grêmio, third in Brazil’s Serie A, are locked in a battle to qualify for next season’s Copa Libertadroes and are still in contention to win the Copa so Brasil, with a semi-final clash against Flamengo on the horizon.
Renato Gaucho confirms Inter Miami interest
Head coach Renato Gaucho has explained about how Suárez’s predicament is affecting his team at a crucial point of the season.
“Suárez is now a problem that the president of the club has to deal with. They have had discussions. As a coach, I just have to focus on leading the team”. Renato, however, is clearly not impressed: “It’s like a Mexican soap opera that has to come to an end now. I’ll stay out of it until 2 August, then we’ll see how we move forward”.
The Grêmio boss spoke candidly to the media in a press conference, admitting the rumours surrounding Suárez are true, much to his displeasure. “Everything that has been said is true. Of course, we want Suárez to stay. But I cannot speak on his behalf. I know what he thinks and what the club thinks. For now, he has been talking to the board and the president”.
Suárez “will only play if he is focused on Grêmio”
With plenty for the Porto Alegre side still to play for, Renato doesn’t want any distractions that could prevent his players from performing at their best. And while he knows that Suárez remains is top-class striker, he is willing to move forward without him if he deems that best for the rest of the roster: “I’ve already spoken with Suárez and he will only play if he is focused on Grêmio. If he tells me his mind is elsewhere, then he won’t be considered”.
“I don’t know whether he will play on Saturday or Wednesday,” Renato revealed. Grêmio will take on Atlético Mineiro Saturday on matchday 16 of the Brasileirão, in which only six points separate second from 12th in the race for Copa Libertadores qualification. Four days later, they will take on Flamengo in the semi-finals of the Copa do Brasil, a competition they last won in 2016.
