It’s been one hell of a summer at Barcelona, hasn’t it?Ever since their embarrassing 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in their Champions League quarter-final, it’s been a soap opera at the Camp Nou.Ernesto Valverde was sacked. Ronald Koeman was hired. Lionel Messi told the club he wanted to leave. Koeman told Luis Suarez he can leave. Messi finally decided to stay.And that barely scratches the surface.The next episode is about to begin, too.It involves Suarez, who looked set to sign for Atletico Madrid on Monday.
The 33-year-old was told he was free to leave the club by Koeman in a brutal one-minute phone call shortly after being appointed as the club’s new manager.Reports emerged on Monday that he had given up part of his salary to become a free agent and that he had agreed personal terms to join Atletico Madrid.While Barca may be happy to offload Suarez from their wage bill, it seems they have no intention of allowing him to walk to a La Liga rival - not without a transfer fee anyway.That’s because, according to Tancredi Palmeri, Barca are now trying to block his move to Atleti.
Suarez’s move to Atletico Madrid appeared to create a domino effect with Alvaro Morata then moving to Juventus. While it’s unknown whether that move will be affected, Atleti have now turned to Edinson Cavani.
Palmeri tweeted: “Barcelona president Bartomeu has personally halted Suarez move to Atletico! Now he demands a payment and has changed mind on paying exit fee to Suarez! And meanwhile Atletico have contacted back Cavani!”
Marca add that Barcelona had a list of teams that Suarez couldn’t join when he leaves the Camp Nou. They were: Real Madrid, PSG and Manchester City.
Atletico aren't on that list but are now required to pay a fee for Suarez. That could mean they now turn to the free transfer option of Cavani.
Quite where that leaves Suarez’s future is unknown. Another Barcelona transfer saga is well underway...