FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The long-awaited reunion of Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi is now a actuality, after the Uruguayan striker signed with Inter Miami on Friday for the 2024 season.

Suárez and Messi spent six seasons collectively at Barcelona, successful 4 Spanish league titles and 9 different trophies - together with a Champions League title - in that span. Suárez is coming off a season the place he was finest participant and finest striker within the Brazilian league with Gremio.

“I’m very happy and excited to take on this new challenge with Inter Miami,” Suárez mentioned. “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 hypothesis for months that Suárez would be part of Inter Miami, particularly given his relationship with Messi. Inter Miami received its first trophy - the Leagues Cup - final season shortly after Messi arrived, his signing a part of an overhaul that introduced elite expertise like Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba to the membership, together with coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino. Busquets and Alba additionally performed for Barcelona alongside Messi, and Martino is a former Barcelona coach.

Now, Suárez joins that blend. He turns 37 in January - Messi is 36, Busquets is 35 and Alba turns 35 in March, so Inter Miami will certainly have some workloads to handle. And Suárez has struggled with intense knee ache, however clearly the lure of enjoying with Messi once more was too sturdy to disregard.

“Luis is a fierce competitor whose winning drive embodies what we want out of our players,” Inter Miami managing proprietor Jorge Mas mentioned. “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 colourful and profitable historical past to Inter Miami.

With Suárez, Uruguay ended 20 years of World Cup underachievement by reaching the semifinals in 2010. He helped ship 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 additionally is understood for an notorious intentional handball within the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals to take a semifinal spot from Ghana and served bans on three events for biting opponents - the latest of these in 2014, after he chomped down on the shoulder of Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini following a tussle within the penalty space throughout 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 mentioned. “I’m also eager to meet my new teammates and coaches.”

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