Liverpool go head-to-head with Atletico Madrid in their opening Champions League clash on Wednesday night, with a former legend of both clubs once being blocked from joining Manchester United
Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona reacts during the Liga match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on June 19, 2020 in Seville, Spain.
Luis Suarez was blocked from joining Manchester United by Barcelona
(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United were once blocked from signing Luis Suarez due to a transfer ban clause included in his contract.
The Uruguayan forward enjoyed six seasons at Barcelona, clinching four La Liga titles and the Champions League alongside football greats such as Lionel Messi. However, after the 2019/20 season, the ageing star was informed by manager Ronald Koeman that he was no longer needed and should find a new club.
However, the Catalans backtracked on an agreement to let him depart for free when they discovered he was on the verge of signing for La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid. Suarez had agreed to forfeit a portion of the wages owed to him in the final year of his contract, and in return, Barca would allow him to leave without a fee, provided he didn't join certain clubs.
Manchester United, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain were all part of that list, as agreed when he signed from Liverpool for a staggering £75million in 2014. United had initially emerged as a shock option, though a move to Old Trafford would have surely burned any last Liverpool bridges the Uruguayan international had.
The ex-Liverpool star managed to reach an agreement to join Atletico, only for the Blaugrana to obstruct his move to the Spanish capital as well as they refused to strengthen a direct rival.
After threatening to get his lawyers involved and stating that Barcelona should have honoured the agreement to terminate his contract, Suarez eventually signed a two-year contract at the Wanda Metropolitano.
He managed two goals and an assist on his debut - an early sign of the calamitous error Barca had made - and went on to net 21 goals in 32 La Liga matches as Diego Simeone's side won the title. Suarez would go on to score another 13 goals the following season before making a return to Uruguay with Nacional.
Luis Suarez of Atletico de Madrid celebrates after scoring their side's second goal during the La Liga Santander match between Real Valladolid CF and Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla on May 22, 2021 in Valladolid, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors
Barcelona lived to regret Suarez's Atletico Madrid move
By securing the league in his first season, the now Inter Miami striker, 38, achieved something he couldn't manage in three-and-a-half seasons at Anfield, despite being considered one of the top strikers in world football at that time.
From January 2011 to the summer of 2014, the highly divisive forward racked up 82 goals in 133 appearances, including an extraordinary final season in the Premier League where he scored 31 in 33 league matches.
As such, he is one of the few players, along with Fernando Torres, to hold legend status at both Liverpool and Atletico, despite receiving boos from the Anfield crowd upon his return to face them in the Champions League in November 2021.
The Reds triumphed in that group stage clash 2-0 thanks to goals from the late Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane. It remains uncertain which of his former teams Suarez will be rooting for on Wednesday evening as they face off at Anfield, four years after their last meeting.
Ahead of their 2025/26 Champions League opener, the Reds have been in fine form in the Premier League, winning all four of their matches so far. However, Arne Slot will be concerned that they've had to rely on late goals to secure each of those victories.
Atletico, on the other hand, have had a challenging start to the season, securing victory in just one of their initial four La Liga matches. Their recent 2-0 triumph over Villarreal at home was a bright spot, but facing Liverpool away is set to be a much sterner test.