Luis Suarez returns to boyhood club, Uruguay's Nacional, after 16 years away

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez's decade-plus in Europe has ended as the 35-year-old on Wednesday made his way to his boyhood club Nacional in Uruguay.

Former Liverpool, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid star Suarez posted his picture in a white Nacional shirt on Twitter.

"Now yes, OFFICIALLY! #SUAREZ IN NACIONAL! A pride to wear my shirt again in Nacional! Thank you all for your support! SEE YOU SOON," he tweeted.

Nacional put Suarez's photo on social media to welcome him, saying that the club is happy to see him back home, and Suarez responded that he is “happy to come back” and thanked the team for the opportunity.

On Tuesday, Suarez said in a Twitter video that he reached a pre-agreement with the Uruguayan club.

Nacional did not disclose the details of his contract.

After leaving Nacional in 2006, Suarez played for Dutch clubs Groningen and Ajax, England's Liverpool, and Spanish teams Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

During his football career, Suarez scored 436 goals in 695 club appearances.

In the 2021-22 season, he racked up 13 goals in 45 matches for Atletico Madrid.

Suarez is a five-time Spanish champion, and helped Barcelona win the Spanish La Liga four times.

In 2021, he secured the Spanish league title with Atletico Madrid.

Suarez was a Barca forward when the team won the 2015 UEFA Champions League.

Separately, he scored 68 goals in 132 international caps for Uruguay.

Suarez represented his nation in the 2010, 2014, and 2018 FIFA World Cup tournaments.