It was unofficial but not official. Until Atlético de Madrid warned that, after the match against Sevilla, there would be a farewell for two footballers who will not continue. The Herrera thing was known. The Houston Dynamo made his signing official for next season in March. The Suárez thing was an open secret: that he would not renew. And the Wanda Metropolitano fell apart to encourage and then fire their gunman.
The Uruguayan was the starter and a large part of Atleti’s efforts on the pitch focused on celebrating a final goal in front of the mattress fans. On the 9th he had chances, but he was unable to close his stage at the Metropolitano doing what he has known how to do best, in his career and also as a rojiblanco, especially last year. In the 65th minute he was replaced by Cunha, while the bottom unfurled a banner of thanks (“Thank you, Lucho, for making us champions”), and the Uruguayan could barely contain his tears.
After the meeting, the tributes arrived. From the club, from my teammates and, above all, from the fans. First It was Hector Herrera’s turn. The companions made him and his family a corridor and the Mexican thanked the good moments lived since he arrived in 2019 from Porto: “Being here has been a dream and a pleasure. A team with great players, great people and a crowd that received me very well. Thanks for the support and cheers for Atleti”.
Then it was Luis Suárez’s turn. One cheer after another. “Uruguayan, Uruguayan”. A video with his best goals, and roar of the Metropolitan when recalling the hand in hand of Valladolid that decided the last League. The battering ram could barely, again, hold back tears of emotion. “First of all, I would like to thank all the Atlético fans and the people who work at the club, one by one, for the love they gave me from day one is impressive. I will never forget it. Also my teammates, for opening my doors doors at a difficult moment”, it started.
Suárez continued with his farewell before a crowd that did not stop singing and applauding him: “What I had to do was return everything on the court, I gave myself 200%. Apart from having achieved a League, which unfortunately we were not able to enjoy with our people on the pitch, I will take with me the love they give me every day. I will not forget. Wherever we are there will always be one more Atlético fan. Hi Athletes! ”
The rojiblanco club summoned him in December to speak in February but that second conversation never took place. The Uruguayan arrived at Atlético in the summer of 2020 for two seasons. The past was key to achieving the League title, with 21 goals. He this his numbers in front of the goal have dropped (13) although he is still the rojiblanco top scorer of the season.