Luis Suarez announces move to Nacional

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By Martin Graham | 27th Jul 2022

After 16 years in Europe, Luis Suarez has packed it in and headed back to South America. The Uruguayan has agreed to a pre-agreement with Nacional and will play in their colours this season.

Every good thing has a way of coming to an end. No matter the level of success a player reaches, he always comes to the point where he has to walk into the sunset either with pride over an illustrious career or regrets over missed chances. Whichever it is, there is always the inevitable end. Many players seek one last hurrah in the spotlight before hanging up their boots.

With the end of a career approaching, once great players find their stocks drop irrespective of their status. Cristiano Ronaldo is one player that finds himself in this category. Once spoken of in the debate as the greatest of all time, the Portuguese star is desperate for a Champions League club to further his legacy.

Luis Suarez is not far from the same fate. The Uruguayan has struggled for a place in Europe, but his stock has dropped immensely, so he has resorted to returning to South America. The former Ajax player has signed a pre-agreement to join Nacional de Football this summer.

Suarez rides into the sunset

Luis Suarez had hoped there would be an extension to his Atletico Madrid career, but the club could not find space in their attack for the Uruguayan. Suarez was without a club and had to seek new pastures. For a man of his talent and experience, it shouldn’t be an arduous task to find a new club, but with scarce European opportunities, he had to take the familiar route of a ‘lesser’ league.

There were several rumours of a Major League Soccer (MLS) move. The former Barcelona forward seemed on his way to LAFC to join Gareth Bale, but he opted to follow his heart and has decided to return to Uruguay.

After 16 years of football in Europe, Suarez announced that he signed a pre-agreement with Uruguayan giants Nacional de Football and would join them this summer. The announcement halted a summer of speculations surrounding his future, and it would excite Nacional fans who had been enthusiastic about a return for the former Barca forward.

A history of success

Suarez (35) started his career at Nacional in 2005, where he made 34 appearances and scored 12 goals before heading to Europe, where he joined Dutch side FC Groningen.

Suarez was successful in Europe, where he traversed several countries and clubs. He moved to Ajax from FC Groningen, where he won several trophies. Suarez also played for Liverpool, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. In all, the Uruguayan won seven league titles and the UEFA Champions League before his last contract at Atletico expired at the end of last season.

Suarez announced his return to Nacional and South American football on Twitter. He said he reached a pre-agreement to join Nacional.

Nacional are the most successful club in Uruguayan football history, with 48 league titles and three Copa Libertadores. Nacional finished second in the Primera Division last season. After seven games this season, Nacional are top of Group B.