Only Lionel Messi has scored more goals in La Liga than the Uruguayan since leaving Barca under a cloud in the summer transfer window
Barcelona’s first season without Luis Suarez has been a reminder of the struggle at Real Madrid after Cristiano Ronaldo left for Juventus, says Diego Forlan.
The former Atletico Madrid and Uruguay midfielder also believes Barca’s decision to knock out Suarez had nothing to do with his achievements on the pitch.
Barca follow Atletico by five points in the Spanish title race, although only Lionel Messi has scored more goals in La Liga this season than Suarez.
What was said?
On the decision to sell Barca Suarez, Forlan said AFP: “It was definitely a big mistake. As soon as Barcelona said it wanted to sell, I knew it was a mistake.
“I only know about what he did on the pitch.
“I sent him a message and said, ‘Listen, you’re not the first and you won’t be the last. You have to keep to yourself. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone so just keep made at Atletico Madrid. ‘
“But when you get punished for something you didn’t do, when you’re still in good shape, playing well, of course your goal is to show that you can still achieve.”
‘It’s as if Ronaldo left Real Madrid’
Barca have dragged themselves back into controversy in the title race and reached the Copa del Rey final with an attractive goal against Sevilla, but they have rarely looked at the best this season.
Forlan drew a parallel to Real Madrid’s loss of their own attacking talisman ahead of the 2018-19 season. Madrid finished third in La Liga, had no trophy but the Club World Cup, and went through three permanent managers in the season after Ronaldo’s move to Turin.
“Barcelona miss Luis, it’s like when Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid,” Forlan said.
“It wasn’t just Cristiano Ronaldo leaving, one of the best players in football history. He has 50 goals left as well.
“So if you sell a player like Ronaldo or Suarez, you have to replace them with two players and then there is a risk because they have to change.
“As soon as Cristiano left it was never going to be easy for Real Madrid and for Barcelona now it is the same.”