Lionel Messi tells Luis Suarez 'good luck fatty' as former Liverpool and Barcelona striker welcomed ·

23 Jun 2024, 00:00

Luis Suarez received a hero's welcome by Nacional fans, who flocked to the club's stadium to see the Uruguay talisman come home.

And he even got a message of support from his cheeky former Barcelona teammate, Lionel Messi, following his return to his boyhood side.

Thousands of Tricolores supporters were waiting for the ex-Liverpool star and escorted him to Parque Central Stadium with gigantic tifos and flares, where he was officially presented as a Nacional player.

Suarez had earlier received a heart-warming reception by the club's fanbase after he was seen arriving at Montevideo's International Airport from Barcelona on Sunday.

The 35-year-old left Atletico Madrid at the end of last season, and signed a pre-agreement with his boyhood club, despite links with Aston Villa and a possible reunion with former Reds teammate Steven Gerrard.

After starting his career with Nacional in 2005, he eventually made the move to Europe joining FC Groningen, following an impressive spell with the Bolsilludo.

He then went on to play for Ajax, Liverpool and Barcelona, before ending his spell with Atletico.

"I want to thank you, because I am here for you and because I want to be here," said Suarez during his presentation.

"Later they will say what they will say. I will not be happier anywhere else. Now I want to return this love on the field with my teammates. I came because I want to win. We have to fight for all the tournaments.

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"I am convinced that if we do things well we can win the tournaments that lie ahead such as the Clausura, the Uruguay Cup and the South American Cup. We have to focus on playing football and enjoying ourselves."

Suarez also featured in his first match for Nacional, but it did not end on the bright side.

His team lost 1-0 at home to Brazil's Atletico Goianiense in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana quarter-finals.

The former Barcelona forward joined the action in the second-half and looked lively in the attacking third. In the dying minutes of the match he set up Juan Ignacio Ramirez for a finish but the ball struck the post.

Since then, Messi, who loaned his close friend a private jet to get back to his homeland, hailed his former teammate and close friend in a video.

Messi cheekily dubbed Suarez 'gordo', which translates in English to 'fat' or 'fatty'.

“Hello fatty, well you're already there so I can't give you a big hug, I wish you all the best in this new stage of yours," said Messi.

"I know how important it is for you to be there at Nacional, to return to your home, to return to your country after so long, to prepare for a World Cup, which is very close.

"Now I am going to have to watch Nacional from here, even though us Newell's Old Boys don't have good memories with Nacional.

"You know that I will do anything for you, and I love you very much.

"Well, as I told you, I wish you the best, I love you very much and I hope to see you very soon. I send you a big hug."

Lionel Messi tells Luis Suarez 'good luck fatty' as former Liverpool and Barcelona striker welcomed

Luis Suarez received a hero's welcome by Nacional fans, who flocked to the club's stadium to see the Uruguay talisman come home. And he even got a message of support from his cheeky former Barcelona teammate, Lionel Messi, following his return to his boyhood side.

Most read in Football

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