River Plate’s 1-0 aggregate defeat to Velez Sarsfield on Thursday not only scuppered their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores. It also brought a sudden and somewhat unexpected end to River‘s hopes of luring the legendary Luis Suarez back across the Atlantic.
Mundo Deportivo reported last week that the former Barcelona, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid poacher was on the verge of moving back to South America after 16 years in Europe. River coach Marcelo Gallardo, meanwhile, sounded particularly hopeful when quizzed recently about one of the most high-profile transfer deals in the continent’s recent history.
“(Suarez) is an elite player,” explained the highly-rated tactician. “We made the attempt (to sign him). He has the will, enthusiasm (to come). It’s good.
“If he hadn’t shown enthusiasm, we wouldn’t be here waiting.”
Luis Suarez to River Plate ‘collapses’
But after River Plafailed to overturn a 1-0 first-leg defeat to Velez Sarsfield, that wait is now over. And they do say it’s the hope that kills you.
“I was really tempted despite my plan to stay in Europe, because River were pushing a lot to sign me,” the veteran free-agent says, via Fabrizio Romano. “But the deal has collapsed as they’re now out of the Copa Libertadores.”
So what now? As Cristiano Ronaldo may be about to find out, a footballer in his late-30s commanding such hefty wages – even one as talented as Suarez or CR7 – is not going to have an endless stream of offers.
But one could still arrive from a country where Suarez made his name as a truly elite-level centre-forward; England, and Aston Villa.
Could Aston Villa still sign Luis Suarez?
The Athletic claim that Steven Gerrard – who once described Anfield legend Suarez as ‘world-class’ and his greatest ever team-mate – discussed a potential return to the Premier League with the now-35-year-old in January. Could that most intriguing of deals now be revisited?
While signing a player of Suarez’s age obviously carries an element of high risk, Ovacian add that a player who’s nose for goal remains as sharp as ever is willing to sign a short-term deal until after the 2022 World Cup before embarking upon a new adventure in the MLS. Thus, minimising said ‘risk’.
The explosive pace is long gone but 34 goals in the last two seasons is a more than healthy tally for a man turning 36 in January. There is life left in this old dog.
Signing Suarez would be a gamble, yes. But one that could pay off with a jackpot.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
