FLORIDA, United States: The long-awaited reunion of Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi is now a reality, after the Uruguayan striker signed with Inter Miami on Friday for the 2024 season.
Suárez and Messi spent six seasons together at Barcelona, winning four Spanish league titles and nine other trophies — including a Champions League title — in that span. Suárez is coming off a season where he was best player and best striker in the Brazilian league with Gremio.
“I’m very happy and excited to take on this new challenge with Inter Miami,” Suárez said. “I can’t wait to get started, and I’m ready to work to make the dream of winning more titles with this great club a reality. I’m optimistic about what we can achieve together with our shared ambition.”
There had been speculation for months that Suárez would join Inter Miami, especially given his relationship with Messi. Inter Miami won their first trophy — the Leagues Cup — last season shortly after Messi arrived, his signing part of an overhaul that brought elite talent like Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba to the club, along with coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino. Busquets and Alba also played for Barcelona alongside Messi, and Martino is a former Barcelona coach.
Now, Suárez joins that mix. He turns 37 in January — Messi is 36, Busquets is 35 and Alba turns 35 in March, so Inter Miami will surely have some workloads to manage. And Suárez has struggled with intense knee pain, but clearly the lure of playing with Messi again was too strong to ignore.
“Luis is a fierce competitor whose winning drive embodies what we want out of our players,” Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas said. “We promised our fans we would pursue the world’s best players to build a squad that can compete at the highest echelons in the Americas. Coming off an award-winning season in Brazil, Luis will be a key addition to our roster.”
Suárez brings a colorful and successful history to Inter Miami.
With Suárez, Uruguay ended 20 years of World Cup underachievement by reaching the semifinals in 2010. He helped deliver Uruguay’s first Copa America title in 16 years in 2011. He was instrumental in Atletico Madrid’s first Spanish title in seven years in 2021.
He also is known for an infamous intentional handball in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals to take a semifinal spot from Ghana and served bans on three occasions for biting opponents — the most recent of those in 2014, after he chomped down on the shoulder of Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini following a tussle in the penalty area during a World Cup match.
“I will give my all to bring joy to these great fans I’ve heard so much about while I wear Inter Miami colors, and look forward to reuniting with great friends and players,” Suárez said. “I’m also eager to meet my new teammates and coaches.”
Luis Suárez signs with Inter Miami, reunites with former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi
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Luis Suárez signs with Inter Miami, reunites with former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi
- “I’m very happy and excited to take on this new challenge with Inter Miami,” Suárez said
- There had been speculation for months that Suárez would join Inter Miami, especially given his relationship with Messi
Late Kane penalty saves Bayern point against rock bottom Mainz
- Borussia Dortmund’s draw at Freiburg had given Bayern a chance to go further ahead of their rivals with victory against Mainz, who have just one win all season
BERLIN: Harry Kane converted a penalty with three minutes remaining to save Bayern Munich’s blushes in a 2-2 home draw against last-placed Mainz in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
Mainz came from a goal down to snatch the lead thanks to an excellent Lee Jae-sung header, putting Bayern on track for a first league defeat since March.
So often Bayern’s savior this season, Kane won and converted the penalty to keep Vincent Kompany’s side undefeated and extend their lead atop the table to nine points.
Kane told DAZN Bayern would have to take the draw “on the chin,” adding: “We conceded a really silly goal before half-time and that changes the momentum.
“When you play against teams who are fighting for every point, they can defend well, they can defend the box, they can make saves, make blocks — and that’s what happened.”
Borussia Dortmund’s draw at Freiburg had given Bayern a chance to go further ahead of their rivals with victory against Mainz, who have just one win all season and had coach Urs Fischer making his league debut in the dugout.
Bayern’s teenage forward Lennart Karl continued his impressive form, turning in a Serge Gnabry cutback to give the hosts the lead on 29 minutes.
Mainz won a free-kick just before the break and William Boving floated in a clever cross right to Kacper Potulski, who powered an unstoppable header in from close range
Midway through the second half, Mainz’s Lee then headed his side into an unlikely lead.
As he did when scoring to snatch Bayern a draw against Union Berlin in November — the only previous time the defending champions had dropped points this season — England captain Kane was again the late difference-maker for the Bavarians.
Kane went down in the box under a challenge and coolly converted for his 18th league goal this season and his 29th for Bayern in all competitions.
Bellingham sees red
Borussia Dortmund missed a chance to climb past RB Leipzig into second, conceding an equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Freiburg after Jobe Bellingham saw red.
Ramy Bensebaini’s 31st-minute goal had Dortmund in front but Bellingham was sent off for a professional foul shortly after half-time.
The hosts made the most of their one-man advantage, camping out in Dortmund’s half and levelling things up thanks to an acrobatic Lucas Hoeler strike.
“We’re definitely disappointed,” Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel told DAZN.
“If the red card doesn’t happen, the result would look different. We had the game under control and were very dominant.”
Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy missed a header while unmarked in the box five minutes in, continuing his recent dry spell.
Guirassy scored 38 goals in all competitions last season but has just one in his past 10 Bundesliga matches.
The visitors had looked comfortable after Bensebaini’s goal but lost control of the match when Bellingham, as the last man, felled an on-rushing Philipp Treu on the edge of the box.
With Freiburg peppering the Dortmund goal, Kobel made a string of impressive saves but could not keep out Hoeler’s curling strike.
