Barça's Luis Suarez is ready to fly after successful Mallorca return
The striker impressed in 33 minutes off the bench at the weekend
Luis Suarez left Son Moix with a black mask covering his mouth and nose, with a flask of mate in his left hand and with a cup in the right. He did so accompanied by Antoine Griezmann, who was also following a similar protocol, and the two were in conversation.
It was an image to show that normality has returned for Luis Suarez. With a knee injury left in the past following a long recuperation, the lockdown, a return to training... But also his first game back, the nerves that come with that and the first victory. Ahead of him is a new world because, after thinking he had said goodbye to the season, this is all a present. And he's ready to enjoy it.
Suarez agreed with coach Quique Setien that he would not start against Mallorca, that he would return to the team gradually to avoid any risks after five months out. And Mallorca was the first step.
Staff excited
At the end of the game, Setien was delighted to have Suarez back for the first time since he took over at Barça: "Everything he did, he did well. To be out for so long, it was more than we expected. He was spectacular and is going to get better."
He added that the Uruguayan is "a very important player who will give us a lot. It is a good start for him and for the team." Setien is hoping Suarez can give the team a plus that wasn't possible before lockdown.
Even Setien's No.2, Eder Sarabia, said that he spent afternoons enjoying the goals scored by Suarez shown on BarçaTV. The staff believe Suarez will give the team a boost in their search for titles. For that reason, his return to action is celebrated as much by the staff as by the plñayer himself.
No problems
Suarez was on the pitch for 33 minutes after replacing Griezmann. During that time he was involved in 12 moves and had two shots on goal.
He did not notice any problems in his knee and showed that he's ready to start games, something that could happen against Leganes on Tuesday at Camp Nou. Suarez would form part of a trident with Messi and Griezmann, while on the bench would be Ansu Fati and Martin Braithwaite. Suarez, LaLiga's third top scorer, starts a new era this week.
Topics with the letter
