FC Barcelona’s Brazilian striker Neymar Jr. celebrates after scoring against Club Leon during the Joan Gamper Trophy match played at Camp Nou stadium. (EPA)
AFP/Barcelona
Luis Suarez made his first appearance for Barcelona after his move from Liverpool for a reported 95 million euros (£75 million, $127 million) as the Catalans hammered Mexican side Club Leon 6-0 in a friendly on Monday.
The Uruguayan striker, who won’t be able to play in a competitive game for Barca until October after his appeal against a fourth-month ban for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup was rejected last week, replaced Rafinha Alcantara 14 minutes from time.
Barca were already leading 4-0 thanks to goals from Lionel Messi, Munir El Haddadi and a double from Neymar before Munir and Sandro rounded off the scoring.
“Today was an unforgettable day,” tweeted the 27-year-old Uruguayan international. “Thank you all for your affection.”
Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizaretta said that they would give him time to get used to his new surroundings.
“We will give him (Suarez) the time so that he can see he is integrating into the team and he will adapt to the team in training,” he told Barca TV.
“He will get to know our style of play and with his quality he will help us. His teammates will get to know him and the idea is that when he returns, he does so at 100 per cent.”
Midfielder Andres Iniesta believes last season’s Premier League Player of the Year will not have any difficulty adapting to life alongside Messi and Neymar in attack.
“It is never easy when you come from another club, but, as I have said before, I think he will find a very healthy dressing room and I think he will adapt fine, because his talent is above everything else,” he said.
Despite his controversial past, which includes two previous bans for biting as well as a suspension by the English Football Association for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra, Suarez was warmly received by the home fans as he made his entrance.
Earlier, Neymar and Messi made a telling impact in their first outings since their World Cup ended in a devastating back injury and defeat in the final respectively.
Messi headed the hosts in front inside three minutes from Neymar’s deflected cross.
The Brazilian striker then doubled Barca’s lead with a delightful chip from Andres Iniesta’s through ball before grabbing his second of the night when he backheeled into an empty net two minutes before half-time.
Munir replaced Neymar at half-time and he tapped home the fourth goal when Dani Alves knocked Ivan Rakitic’s ball over the top into the 19-year-old’s path.
And moments after Suarez had made his entrance, Munir smashed home his second goal of the game with a powerful low finish before Sandro put the seal on a fine Barca performance in similar fashion a minute from time.
Suarez says joining Barca is childhood dream
Luis Suarez said that “playing for Barcelona has been my dream since childhood”, during his official presentation as a Barca player yesterday.
“I thank this club for helping me make my dream come true. Other clubs were interested in me but I only wanted to come here,” he said.
Suarez, 27, was signed by Barca from Liverpool in July for a reported fee of 80 million euros (107 million dollars), despite being banned from by FIFA until October 25 for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini while playing for Uruguay at the World Cup.
“I know that everyone will be scrutinising my every action but I will have to live with that. I have been helped by qualified professionals. I simply have to accept this suspension,” Suarez said.
