After 16 years of a successful career in Europe, concluding a journey in the old continent that began in 2006, Luis Suárez has returned to his native Uruguay to star in one of the last chapters of his sports career with the club that saw him grow up, Montevideo National. The Uruguayan forward made his debut with the Uruguayan team this past Tuesday, but the emotion for his return was colored by bitterness due to the defeat against Atlético Goianiense (0-1) in the Copa Sudamericana.
Luiz Fernando, with a powerful header that left goalkeeper Sergio Rochet without options, tarnished Suárez's day, who took the field in the 74th minute, when his team was already losing. "Happy to play again in Nacional. Sad for the defeat, but convinced that we can turn the result around. Let's go, we can, all together!" The 35-year-old striker wrote on social networks after the duel at the Great Central Park.
The exit to the field of play of the former Barça player caused a roar in the stands, where his friend and former soccer player Kun Agüero recorded the moment with his mobile. In the little more than fifteen minutes that he was on the pitch, he showed the qualities and character that have characterized him since he crossed the 'pond' to start his European adventure in the Netherlands with Groningen.
Suárez fought for each ball, had a chance to equalize in the 84th minute, took a free kick that crashed into the wall and in the 90th he collaborated in a play in which the ball hit the post. After the match was over, he also exhibited his usual temper by leading a collective protest against referee Aquino for a possible penalty in favor in the closing stages of the duel.
Nacional will travel to Brazil on August 10 to play the second leg with the obligation to win to be in the semifinals of the Copa Sudamericana. Before, Luis Suárez will have the opportunity to accumulate minutes, again in front of his fans, in the match of the second day of the Clausura tournament against Rentistas on August 6.
The prestigious team from the Uruguayan capital, founded in 1899 and the most successful in the South American country, began the domestic championship with a defeat at home against Deportivo Maldonado (1-2) in a match where both teams ended with a player sent off. Nacional was crowned champion of the Apertura tournament on June 26.
