Football
ESPN staff 8y

Luis Suarez surprised to replace Lionel Messi as Barcelona's main striker

Luis Suarez admits that he never expected to replace Lionel Messi as Barcelona's centre-forward when he joined the Spanish giants from Liverpool in 2014.

The Uruguay striker finished this season with 40 goals in 35 league appearances to clinch the Pichichi award as La Liga's top goal scorer as Barcelona claimed their 24th Spanish title after a season-long battle with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

With the title race going down to the final day of the season last weekend, it took a hat trick from Suarez to give Barca a 3-0 away win over Granada.

Luis Enrique made adjustments to his tactics this season, to accommodate Messi, Neymar and Suarez in his starting lineup, shifting the Argentine to the left, to allow the latter to take his preferred role as the No. 9.

"I never imagined playing in this position because Leo was playing as the 'nine', and I thought, 'where are they going to play me?'," Suarez told beIN Sport.

"We get along very well, both on and off the park.

"Sometimes it is hard to understand, because a striker is always angry when they're not the main star, but here it does not happen like that.

"There is nothing false or acted. It is a true friendship, where there is zero jealousy and where we get along well.

"We advise each other and we are glad when things go well for each other.

"For me, I tell my children I played with the best player in history and that is a privilege."

After two seasons and six trophies with Barcelona, Suarez is thankful that his move to Spanish football has allowed him to rebuild his football career, after his bite on Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil led to a lengthy ban from FIFA.

"It was very painful, especially when I was aware that I was wrong," Suarez said.

"What hurts me most is the way I was treated. [The suspension] was difficult, but I took it as I had to.

"Then I thought, 'I am privileged', with how I reversed it. I think that not everyone could have reversed the situation as I have."

Suarez and his teammates have one last game -- the Copa del Rey final against Sevilla on Sunday -- before they close out what has been another successful season for the club.

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