Why Did Suarez Leave Barcelona?

By Anna Duncan

Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique, and Sergio Busquets are some of the big names that come to mind when we think of Barcelona FC. However, one name that is missing from this list now is Luis Suarez.

Yes, the Uruguayan striker has left the Catalan giants and joined Atletico Madrid. But why did he leave Barcelona? Here’s a closer look at the reasons behind this move.

The Beginning of the End

Suarez had been an integral part of Barcelona’s success for six years. He formed a deadly partnership with Messi and Neymar – famously known as MSN – that terrorized defenders across Europe. During his time at Camp Nou, Suarez scored 198 goals in 283 appearances and won numerous titles including four La Liga titles and one UEFA Champions League title.

However, Suarez’s departure started to become inevitable after the 2019-20 season. Barcelona had a disastrous campaign where they failed to win any major trophy, lost 8-2 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals, and finished second in La Liga behind their arch-rivals Real Madrid.

New Manager, New Plans

Following their disappointing season, Barcelona appointed Ronald Koeman as their new manager for the 2020-21 season. Koeman immediately made it clear that he wanted to rebuild the team by cutting down on high earners and promoting youngsters from their academy.

Suarez was one of the players who was deemed surplus to requirements under Koeman’s new regime. The Dutchman made it clear that he didn’t see Suarez as part of his plans going forward and asked him to leave the club.

The Boardroom Drama

Suarez’s departure also had a lot to do with Barcelona’s ongoing boardroom drama. The club was facing financial difficulties – partly due to mismanagement by its previous board – which led them to cut down on their wage bill.

Suarez, who was one of the highest-paid players at the club, was asked to take a pay cut. However, he refused to do so and instead agreed to terminate his contract with Barcelona. This move allowed him to leave the club as a free agent and join Atletico Madrid.

A New Challenge

Suarez’s move to Atletico Madrid has turned out to be a masterstroke for both him and his new team. He has been in sensational form this season and has scored 14 goals in 16 appearances – making him the top scorer in La Liga at the time of writing.

Suarez’s departure from Barcelona was not just down to footballing reasons. It was a combination of factors including Koeman’s new plans, boardroom drama, and a desire for a new challenge. While Barcelona fans will miss Suarez’s goals and infectious personality, they can take solace in the fact that he will always be remembered as one of their greatest ever players.