Luis Suarez has returned home and will play for Nacional. For the time being, everything is symbolic: it will be up to him and the team to turn so much expectation and emotion into titles.
Suarez is the greatest Uruguayan player of the twentieth century, the top scorer in national team history, he scored 68 goals in 132 games, and won 19 trophies, including the Champions League and Copa America.
“I’m here for you. Nowhere would I be as happy as I am here. I have three wonderful children, and their dream was to see me play at Nacional. And now I want to give back what you did for me and my family.” Suarez said.
“Returning on the ground, together with my teammates, because without them nothing will be possible.” Suarez added.
At 35, Suarez could rest his body in less physically demanding leagues or take advantage of the last gas to play at a high level in Europe. By choosing to return home to the club where he was born for football, he is still hungry.
The star understands that in this part of the world, desire does not guarantee escape from fan and press criticism. Titles may or may not come, but Suarez understands the importance of competing.
Another fascinating aspect of Suarez’s return to Nacional is the feeling – probably magical thinking, but who cares at this point? – that feelings still matter in this game.
Suarez is a national hero in Uruguay. Treated as a criminal by FIFA after biting Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup, he was defended by then-President Jose Mujica.
He was greeted by ministers of state and politicians from rival parties when he arrived at Parque Central on Monday.
Since 1988, when Nacional won the Libertadores and defeated PSV de Romario in the Club World Cup final, Uruguayan club football has not won an international title.
Perhaps Suarez is s not enough to change this story, but the feeling that his signing creates cannot be ignored.
It remains to monitor the impact of this decision on the Uruguayan national team. In November Suarez will take part in his fourth and final World Cup 2022.
