Luis Suarez struck a rare calm tone ahead of Uruguay vs Spain.
The Inter Miami striker discussed his country’s hopes before their likely World Cup decider.
Suarez stepped down from international duty in late 2024 after a public attack on coach Marcelo Bielsa.
The plan didn’t work and Bielsa kept his job, with Suarez latter pleading for a recall but not getting one.
The 39-year-old hasn’t spoken about the conflict since, but has now tried to put it behind him in an interview with Cadena SER.
Suarez settles Biesla war
Asked why he isn’t playing in the Americas, he responded: “Obviously, I have that desire, but Uruguay has three top-level strikers.
“They’ve earned their place. Suarez’s era is over.
“Yes, I’d love to be on the field tomorrow. But for now, I’m enjoying it and suffering through it from the sidelines, as we Uruguayans are used to.”
One of those, Darwin Nunez, was dropped last time out in a disappointing 2-2 draw with Cape Verde.
Giving his take on how things should change against Spain, he said: “The best approach is to field three fast players who can move the ball well; that way we’ll surprise a Spain side that will dominate the game.
“We can hurt them with quick players moving forward.”
Suarez also commented on Uruguay’s perilous position.
“We’re in that situation we never want to be in, but it seems we’re destined for it,” he said.
“We love high-pressure situations. It happened in 2014, and in 2018 we qualified first and had to beat Portugal in the round of 16. We’re used to it by now.
“Uruguayans will show their fighting spirit and demonstrate why we are Uruguay. The players are world-class, and we have to trust them.”
Suarez’s attack on Bielsa
In 2024, Suarez said in a bombshell interview: “It’s a well-known thing in football, he doesn’t deal much with leaders or experienced players because he doesn’t like to.
“The national team was above everything and I didn’t want to get involved in a conflict. It seemed better to me to keep quiet to avoid friction.
“At the Copa America, there were things that affected me, that hurt me a lot. But I had to keep quiet out of respect for the national team.”
Suarez didn’t start a single game at the Copa America and was twice left on the bench, but he explained that he never got an explanation.
He continued: “I went to talk to him, I sat down in front of him, I spoke to him for five minutes, looking him in the face, telling him that we, the players, were with him, that we were going to respect his decisions, everything that was going to happen.
“He looked at me and said: “Thank you very much Luis”. I got up and left. He didn’t answer me for the five minutes that I spoke to him, and I stayed there, waiting for an answer. And I didn’t get an answer.”
He went on: “In the Celeste Complex, employees are not allowed to enter, greet us and eat with us. They even have to be careful which door they have to enter through. It breaks my heart that the Complex is like this today.
“One legendary staff member today has to go around the complex to eat because he can’t go through the kitchen.
“The next day, the coach explained that the Uruguayans were playing for the people. We all looked at each other and said: how can we do this for the people if we are asked not to greet them?”
Suarez on Messi
Suarez also gave his take on Miami teammate and good friend Lionel Messi who is still going strong at 39.
He said: “I write to him and insult him after the matches. I tell him: Enough!
“There are no words, no congratulations, to describe him. We have to applaud him and enjoy him, as fans around the world.
“We just have to turn on the TV, because every match surprises you. I’m happy to see him happy and enjoying his World Cup.
“He doesn’t need to prove anything, but he’s so competitive that he wants to keep being the best.
“The easiest thing would have been to retire in 2022. Because it was very difficult to come back.
“But there he is, with his character, his national team and teammates around him, the coach who understands him, and the people who love him around the world.”
Finally, Suarez commented on one of his former sides, Atletico Madrid, who are at risk of losing Julian Alvarez after he asked to leave.
Suarez did the same at Liverpool, and commented: “The same thing happened to me in Liverpool.
“I said I wanted to go to Arsenal, then Steven Gerrard came and convinced me I had to stay. He told me that if I had a great year, they would help me go to Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Bayern Munich, wherever I wanted.
“He convinced me. I apologised for my comments, I gave my all to Liverpool, and after just three games they already loved me, and it was my best season there.
“They can convince Julian to stay for a year. Maybe Julian will stand firm; it depends on each person.
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