Lionel Messi has a new running mate with Inter Miami.
Luis Suárez, the Uruguayan striker who was Messi’s teammate at FC Barcelona for six years, has joined Inter Miami on a one-year deal, the club announced on Friday. He will reunite with Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, former Barcelona stars with Inter Miami.
“Nothing more beautiful than playing with friends,” Inter Miami posted in a photo with four children in the team’s academy wearing Messi, Alba, Busquets and Suárez jerseys.
Suárez is a UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and Conmebol Copa América winner and a five-time LaLiga champion.
“I’m very happy and excited to take on this new challenge with Inter Miami. 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,” Suárez said in a statement.
“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. I’m also eager to meet my new teammates and coaches.”
Suárez was named the Best Player and Best Striker in the Brazilian league, producing 26 goals and 17 assists over 53 appearances, and leading Grêmio to win the Campeonato Gaúcho and Recopa Gaúcha earlier this year.
Suárez played alongside Messi, Alba and Busquets in Barcelona from 2014-20, where he won one UEFA Champions League, one FIFA Club World Cup, four LaLiga titles, four Copa del Rey titles, one UEFA Super Cup and two Supercopa de España titles. He scored 195 goals with 113 assists in 283 matches.
“We are happy to welcome world class striker Luis Suarez to our club. Luis is a fierce competitor whose winning drive embodies what we want out of our players. 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. We will continue to be ambitious and always strive to pursue the Freedom to Dream,” said Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas said in a statement.
“We are delighted to have a player of Luis’ quality and passion for the game join our Club. He joins a squad that is inspiring the next generation and we look forward to seeing him take to the field with both former teammates and young players from our Academy,” Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham said in the statement.
