Atletico Madrid’s veteran striker Luis Suarez is reportedly keen on returning to Barcelona even if it means he will pocket a lower salary.
According to reputed Spanish journalist Jose Alvarez during his appearance on El Chiringuito TV, Luis Suarez wants to return to Barcelona after ending his stint with Atletico Madrid in the summer transfer window. The veteran Uruguayan striker is prepared to lower his salary to ensure he goes back to Camp Nou.
Luis Suarez is one of the greatest strikers of his generation, having been a centre-forward par excellence during his stints with Ajax, Liverpool and Barcelona. Since joining Atletico Madrid from Barcelona in September 2020, he has endured a topsy turvy ride at the Wanda Metropolitano and has endured a forgettable 2021/22 season.
The 35-year-old has a decent tally of 13 goals and three assists in 42 outings in all competitions but has been in and out of the side throughout the campaign. And Suarez will leave Atletico Madrid when his contract runs out in the summer transfer window. The veteran striker’s next destination could be Barcelona, as he is keen on returning to Camp Nou.
Barcelona will delve into the market for a striker in the summer transfer window, as Martin Braithwaite wants to embark on a new adventure to seek regular game-time. Meanwhile, Luuk de Jong will return to Sevilla for good, with Barcelona unlikely to trigger the purchase option in his loan deal.
The Blaugrana will thus need to invest in a striker in the summer transfer window, with Erling Haaland initially emerging as their priority target. But Barcelona will be unable to afford the Borussia Dortmund striker due to his wage demands, forcing them to set sights on alternatives.
Robert Lewandowski recently emerged as a viable alternative to Haaland, with the Bayern Munich striker keen on joining Barcelona. But the Bundesliga champions will not let Lewandowski depart from the Allianz Arena in the summer, prompting Barcelona to scour the market for other options. One such candidate could be Suarez.
Atletico Madrid’s veteran striker is keen on returning to Barcelona, even if he will pocket a lower salary. And a Bosman move could be on the cards because it will have a negligible effect on Barcelona’s budget while giving Xavi Hernandez a solid backup to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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The Catalan giants have shown that they are not opposed to bringing back a player if he solves the purpose for them, with Dani Alves returning to Camp Nou earlier this season. And if Suarez can give a few more years as a backup striker, Barcelona will be well served before focusing on a long-term solution.