Suarez Confirms Retirement from Uruguay National Team

Luis Suarez has confirmed his decision to retire from the Uruguay national team. Local time next Friday, at the Centennial Stadium in Uruguay, he will play his final match for the national team against Paraguay in a World Cup qualifier. At the press conference, he expressed his satisfaction with having the right to make this decision and stated that winning the Copa América in 2011 was the most beautiful achievement of his career.

Suarez said: “In recent hours, I’ve been dealing with this matter. I hoped that everyone would hear this news from me, so I called this press conference. Please understand that Friday... (Suarez tears up) will be my last match for the national team, but this is a decision I’ve made after careful thought and analysis. Now is the right time because I have my reasons, and no one has forced me into this decision. It’s a very difficult decision, but it truly is the best time for me to have my final dance with the national team. I will play this match with the same passion I had during my debut in 2007, with the desire of a 19-year-old and the experience of a veteran. On Friday, I will give my all. I was taught to always give everything for my country.”

He continued: “I’ve given my best, and I have nothing to blame myself for. I just want to thank every fan who has supported me in recent days. This reflects my contribution to the national team and will make me proud on Friday. I chose to retire because I want to make way for others. I’m 37 years old now. (Uruguay) has many talented players, and I don’t want to retire due to injury. I will give my all until the last match.”

At the press conference, Suarez cried again and explained that he didn’t want his children to be with him at this moment. “They will see the celebrations on Friday. My second child, Benjamin, doesn’t want me to retire from the national team. After hearing my explanations and the sacrifices I’ve made, what could he say? My eldest daughter understands more; she knows what’s happening and enjoys it all. The image of my teammates lifting me up to celebrate after the Copa América final is a beautiful memory for my children. Friday’s farewell will be a wonderful memory for them.”

Suarez explained: “I hope to be the one to choose to retire (from the national team), rather than being forced out by injury or no longer being called up. I’m very pleased about that. I want to say goodbye here with my teammates, which is something many people haven’t had the chance to do. Coach (Bielsa) told me he needs me. I called him to confirm my decision. Many people understand this decision; they know it’s the right time, but the coach still tried to persuade me to continue.”

Regarding his future, Suarez said: “I won’t become a coach, but my life will still be related to football because I love it. I have a football development system in Montevideo. A friend told me, ‘When you came, you were a child; now you’re leaving as a legend.’ When I was a child, I wanted to wear the number 10 jersey of Francisco Palacios, not to imitate him, but because he won three Copa Américas. I’m leaving with so many goals and countless joys; no one can take away my contribution to the national team. I have no complaints because, from the age of four, I dreamed of becoming a professional player, but I never imagined becoming who I am today. I’ve exceeded my dreams because my dream was just to make it to the first team. I can leave with peace of mind because I’ve achieved everything I wanted with the national team and given everything I had.”

Suarez expressed his desire to say goodbye to the fans in Uruguay’s stadium, saying: “I won’t go to Venezuela (for the World Cup qualifier); that has been confirmed. The coach told me he needs me, and I said: ‘Why not say goodbye in my stadium with my fans?’ Coach Tabárez was one of the first to know. He knows that 90% of my national team career is thanks to him; he has helped me a lot personally. I couldn’t not tell him about this decision. He understands. I gave him my reasons. Coach Tabárez is someone who gave me everything in the national team, and my best years were with him. I invited him to witness everything on Friday. I know him well and completely understand his thoughts on this.”

Suarez concluded: “I’ve earned the right to make this decision myself. There’s nothing better than making decisions for yourself rather than having others make them for you or being forced by injury. The best thing in my career was winning the Copa América in 2011; it’s irreplaceable. Every player must leave their mark on the national team. For me, it’s important that I was consistent on the field, and that’s why I am who I am today. I never tried to imitate anyone. My biggest mistake was the 2014 World Cup (when he was banned for biting Italian player Chiellini). I look forward to celebrating everything well on Friday and hope Uruguay wins. After all, it’s a three-point game, and it must be taken seriously. I want to play this match as if it were my first.”

Finally, Suarez said: “I believe now is the best time to say goodbye to the national team. I have the ability to give my all on Friday and say goodbye to my fans, which is very special to me.”