Uruguay forward Luis Suarez has admitted that he is no longer the player he once was back in “2015, 2016 or 2013.”
This comes after the 35-year-old footballer was unveiled by Gremio, who just gained promotion back to the Brazilian top flight.
The former Liverpool star joins the side on a two-year deal from Nacional, where he scored eight goals in 14 games last campaign.
His experience was influential in helping Nacional to win the Primera Division title last season.
However, the former Barcelona frontman put it on record that he knows he is no longer the player he used to be back then but reckons that he believes he can still make a difference on the field of play for his new club.
LUIS SUAREZ ADMITS HE IS NO LONGER THE SAME….
“I am not the Luis Suarez of 2015, 2016 or 2013. I am not. I am not stupid,” Suarez said on his unveiling, as quoted by fifa.com.
“I am not going to run 50 metres because I am not that player anymore.
“But maybe with my movement 50 metres from goal, my teammates can benefit because it is a team game. What I am going to promise is compromise, comradery, attitude, hunger and goals.”
Suarez went on to say the Gremio move might be one of the biggest challenges of his football career.
But he insists that he is someone who loves new challenges, hence he decided to join the Brazilian side.
HOW GREMIO COULD BE LUIS SUAREZ’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE…
“It could be [biggest challenge], but I can also compare it with my time at Atletico Madrid,” he added.
“I won the league with Atletico when Real Madrid and Barcelona dominated football in Spain.
“This one might be even more difficult, but I am convinced we have an incredible team and a coach that does things well and has a great influence.
Suarez continued: “I always liked challenges. Coming to a club with so much history, a great club from Brazil, always gives you hope.
“For a team to come from Serie B and want to fight with the best in Brazilian football is a very nice challenge. [We want] Gremio to return to where it deserves to be, among the teams that go to the Copa Libertadores, to be fighting up there and creating a good team.”
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