Luis Suarez missed Barcelona’s pre-season friendly win over Gimnasia on Saturday as he was left out of Ronald Koeman’s squad.
Upon Koeman’s arrival, the Uruguayan was told he was not apart of the Dutchman’s plans to take the club forward, with the new Barca boss reportedly telling Suarez he would not be counted out in a telephone conversation.
Koeman oversees his team’s first victory of the preseason on Saturday / David Ramos/Getty Images
Suarez’s omission from Saturday’s friendly squad, then, was not too surprising given Koeman’s stance on 33-year-old Clare. The club are also targeting Lyon captain Memphis Depay as a possible replacement for Suarez this summer, while Inter’s Lotaro Martinez has been linked for months.
However, there is no guarantee that Suarez will leave Catalonia in the current window.
Mundo Deportivo understands that Juventus are growing impatient because the striker must pass an exam before he can obtain Italian citizenship – necessary because Juve have a quota of non-EU nationals – and this is something Suarez has just done. have to do
Atletico Madrid, however, have an alternative for the Uruguayan.
Atletico Madrid and Juventus have been touted as two potential destinations for Suarez/David Ramos/Getty Images.
Meanwhile, the Mundo Deportivo report adds that Suarez is indeed keen to stay at Barcelona this summer, and is now trying to ‘compel’ his employers to allow him to stay at the Camp Nou. , before possibly leaving for free when his contract expires. Campaign 2020/21.
In Suarez’s absence, Lionel Messi was included in Koeman’s side for Saturday’s 3-1 victory over third-tier outfit Gimnastic. Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho were all on the scoresheet.
Another player absent from Koeman’s squad was Arturo Vidal, who was also told his services were no longer required at the club.
G⚽️of the day
? @Dembouz pic.twitter.com/ghvaq6XPvB
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 13, 2020
The Chilean is set to reunite with Antonio Conte at Inter in what is reported to be a two-year deal worth €6m per season, subject to a medical set for next week.
Barcelona face Girona in another friendly on Wednesday before the start of their La Liga campaign at the end of September. La Blaugrana host Villarreal in their season opener as they look to wrest the Spanish title back from Real Madrid.
Whether or not Suarez remains on the club’s books by then remains to be seen, although the Uruguayan’s stay is increasingly likely.