The story behind Barcelona's disastrous rejection of Luis Suárez - The Guardian

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"Madness," Lionel Messi called it, but even he hadn't imagined it being this mad.

Something had started. Suárez has scored 16 in 17 appearances, averaging a goal every 82 minutes. He has more than any Atlético player last season and is La Liga's top scorer, three clear. He has scored in 11 matches and has been directly responsible for 12 points, more than anyone in Spain: points that put Atlético five clear at the top with two games in hand. No debutant has had a better start this century.

Not bad for a free transfer who was finished, for a man they were so desperate to get rid of they paid for him to go.

"I can't understand how Barcelona let him go," Diego Costa said after the Granada game and with every passing week someone echoes his words. "Barcelona made a mistake: even if you know nothing about football you know he's still got it," said Diego Forlán. "He's an incredible striker; give him half a chance and it's in.

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The story behind Barcelona's disastrous rejection of Luis Suárez

The Uruguayan, at 34, has been sensational for Atlético. Not bad for a free transfer who Barcelona were desperate to get rid of

www.theguardian.com

Do you think this was a bad move for Barcelona, football-Era?

 

[Bus-TEE]

Getting booted out the way he did just made him angry and wanting to prove a point, exactly what Barcelona didn't want.

In saying that, Barca have much, MUCH bigger concerns given the amount of debt they have and murky on field prospects.

 

[VilleEricson]

Letting him go for free, and to a rival no less, it was just a really stupid decision.

 

[DBT85]

It was absolutely dumb of them to get rid of a racist cannibal when he was still a peak player.

 

[Joni]

He was their second highest paid player. They couldn't afford him anymore.

 

[eonden]

Barca couldnt afford him, with 15M on wages a year he was the second highest paid player on a generally overpaid squad.
Yes, it was a mistake if we look back, but Barca needed to get rid of as many players as possibl given their economic situation so it was not "too big" of a mistake.

 

[Niks]

Kinda sorta the same story with Real and James...

Let go for FREE.

 

[Human Resources]

is this the biter

 

[Stuntman]

As posted above me it was an economic and PR move, the dumb thing was hand him to Atlético, there were talks about psg or a team from Italy but didn't flourish.

 

[JustJavi]

A bad move for Barcelona was the last contract they signed with Messi. This was just a huge fuck up for Koeman, but he is good at fucking up big time.

 

[Punished]

Another article from today on Barça's mismanagement.

 

[Humidex]

is this the biter

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Yup

 

[E.T.]

While a stupid move, the club is trying to cut down on wages due to their financial situation. It never had anything to do with his ability. I am sure that if they could have got rid of Coutinho, they would have gone that route instead.

 

[CarbonCrush]

Its madness but still... fuck Suarez he is a nasty racist shit.

 

[Darren Lamb]

Moving him on wasn't necessarily a bad decision, but they way they did it was so incompetent. You made a rival better, and got nothing in turn minus the wage bill improvement, and angered your best player

 

[Rental]

No the dumbest move was not selling Messi when he wanted out. Yes his value was lower for wanting out but now they are going to get nothing from him leaving. They would have still received a hefty amount of money with a few clubs in a bidding war last summer.

They literally kept messi around for a season they are not going to win anything anyway. Just a waste and really unfair way to treat your club legend as well.

Suarez made sense if they wanted to rebuild and as stated above, that rebuild should be without Messi as well and seeing them leave at the same time. Maybe moving suarez outside of spain should have been priority #1, but it is what it is. At least he didn't go to Real Madrid and perform like this. I remember talks of him going to mls were even going around.

They are a disaster currently but once they can pump fans back into the stadium I'd expect they can get revenue back on track quickly, especially once a few contracts they are paying on expire.

 

[EternalDarko]

Suarez is a disgrace, he should have been banned from the sport after all his antics.

 

[XaviConcept]

Kinda sorta the same story with Real and James...

Let go for FREE.

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Eeeeh, nah, pretty different. James had almost no value when he left, it didnt work for him at Bayern, played like crap, his replacements are all better than him, etc

Barca replaced Suarez with ... Braithwaite

 

[Puroresu_kid]

It was a disgrace the way they treated suarez. If they wanted to sell him fine but the way he was forced out was disgusting. His a Barcelona legend and deserved better than that.

Am amazing player. One of the best #9's over the last 20 years!!