Hundreds of Uruguayans took to the streets on Sunday to welcome Luis Suárez, the historic goalscorer for the Uruguayan national team who returns to the country to play for Nacional.
Suárez landed in Montevideo aboard the private plane of Lionel Messi, his former partner in Barcelona, according to local press reports. The Argentine crack dedicated some exciting words to his friend through a video that was broadcast during the reception.
Accompanied by his children and wife, the 35-year-old star arrived smiling and happy at the Carrasco international airport, where he was greeted by Uruguayans who counted down the minutes for his return and greeted him with joy.
“The message is clear: I am here for the fans, thanks to them and everything they did,” he told the Nacional television channel, the club where he made his professional debut in 2005.
Nacional is one of the two most popular paintings in Uruguay.
Suárez was released after ending his contract with Atlético de Madrid last season.
The “Gunman” was in the orbit of various clubs in Europe, South America and the United States MLS, but in the end he opted for the club of his loves with the aim of getting ready for Qatar 2022, the fourth consecutive World Cup he would play in his career.
He was awaited at the air station by leaders of Nacional and a truck stamped with the shield and the legend: “Luis Suárez, the reunion.”
After that, the player born in Salto, a town in the northwest of the small country of just over 3 million inhabitants, tweeted summoning the fans to the Gran Parque Central, the Nacional stadium.
“THANK YOU SO MUCH, it was something incredible and unforgettable,” Suarez tweeted.
Thousands of people enjoyed a musical show, singing and celebrating while waiting for the player to arrive at the stadium. Suarez embraced his new teammates and the coaching staff of the team he played for from 2005-06.
One of the most emotional moments of the presentation was a televised message that Messi sent him. The current Paris Saint-Germain striker greeted Suárez with the affectionate word “fat” and wished him all the best in his new stage: “I know how important it is for you to be there, at Nacional and to return home, return to live in your country”, said Messi.
In a message addressed to Nacional fans and all Uruguayans, Suárez thanked them for their welcome.
“I am here for you and because I want to be here,” he said.
“I have three wonderful children whose dream was to see me play at Nacional,” he added.
Suárez stated that he wants to return what they did for him and that means winning with Nacional, aiming for several titles, such as the local league and the Copa Sudamericana.