Inter Miami is finalizing a deal to sign Uruguay forward Luis Suarez to a one-year contract, sources briefed on the deal tell The Athletic. The agreement will reunite Suarez with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who won four La Liga titles and a Champions League from 2014-2020.
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Nothing is completely sorted on what designation Suarez will hit the cap at, sources say. The league will discuss potential roster rule changes this winter. Miami, and all other teams in MLS, will have until roster compliance date to finalize designations on their roster. Roster compliance date is the Friday evening before opening weekend in MLS.
MLS clubs are permitted three designated players (DPs). Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Gregore finished last season as Miami’s DPs, though Miami can buy down Gregore to free up a spot if they so choose.
Inter Miami let forward Josef Martinez leave this offseason, clearing the way for Suarez. The club also has Ecuador international forward Leo Campana on the books. With the amount of games Miami is expected to play in 2024 between the league, U.S. Open Cup, CONCACAF Champions Cup and Leagues Cup, the club will need several options at all positions. The attack will feature Messi, Suarez, Campana, Facundo Farias, Robert Taylor, Robbie Robinson and others.
Suarez, turning 37 in January and whose deal with Inter Miami was first reported by the Miami Herald, spent the last year with Brazilian side Gremio, where he had 24 goals and 17 assists in 52 appearances (4,557 minutes). He’s been hampered by a knee injury that requires constant medical attention so he likely won’t be fit to play every single game for Miami, even though he did feature 52 times for Gremio and once for Uruguay in the calendar 2023 year.
‘The truth is that the first steps I take in the morning are very painful,” Suarez told Urugay’s 100% Deporte radio show on Monday “Anyone who sees me thinks it is impossible for me to play a game. My son asks me to play with him and I am not able to.
On the inside I have cartilage wear and that hits the bone. No liquid is generated but sometimes it gets stuck. Before games I take three pills and inject myself.”
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The former Barcelona star has spoke about his desire to play with Messi one more time before they retire.
“I’ve earned the right to decide, to say enough and to enjoy the place where I’ll play next,” said Suarez over the weekend. “And for my kids, who have had little vacation time lately in order to stay with me and support me.”
Suarez starred for Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, Ajax, Groningen and Nacional during his storied career as he inches closer to heading on a new chapter in MLS with Miami.
Reporting: Tom Bogert, Felipe Cardenas and David Ornstein
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(Photo: Fernando Alves/Getty Images)