He is known as one of football’s most controversial figures but Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has vowed to “do things better” as he makes his return to international football.
The Uruguay star takes to the pitch for his country for the first time in 21 months on Friday after his nine-game ban from international matches for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup expired.
The occasion could hardly be bigger — Uruguay travels to Brazil for a South America qualifier for the 2018 World Cup.
But former Liverpool ace Suarez, who is now part of the world’s deadliest club attack along with Lionel Messi and Brazil captain Neymar, says he has learned from what happened against Italy — the third time in his career he had committed a biting offense.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Brazil clash, he said Uruguay — which he is likely to captain — would benefit from “a new Luis.”
Since moving to Barcelona, Suarez has been one of the most in-form footballers in the world. This season, he has scored 37 goals in 38 matches and created a further 15.
He said his astonishing performances for the Catalan club had been made possible by a new “moderation” in his game that he would be bringing into his international career.
“I have to be more intelligent in many ways. I am trying to take advantage of the situations life is putting in front of me,” he explained.
“I have to do things better and enjoy my return to the national team and the people’s kindness.
“No-one is going to change the way I play. I am going to have the same attitude. I will still run, still pressure, still argue. However, it will be with moderation and as you have seen me play for Barcelona recently.
“I have been working over the last few weeks on trying to control my anxiety, my nerves, which people’s euphoria can cause, but I am very relaxed.”
Suarez added that he was “more than happy to be here again, hanging out with my teammates.”
“I know it is special because a lot of time has passed, but more than anything I feel like a player who is coming to give the best I can,” he said.
“The only thing I want to do is play for the national side again and enjoy the warmth of the fans.
“The [captain’s] armband is important — but how the new Luis is, if I am captain it will be welcomed and I will be proud, but if not then it’s the same thing.”
Coach Oscar Tabarez warned that Brazil would do “everything they can” to frustrate Suarez, but stressed that he and his staff had been encouraging their biggest star “to think about playing football and nothing else.”
“As a person, he must have emotions, he must have a lot going on in his head after almost two years away from the national team,” he said.
“He is going to play against teams who recognize the potential he has and who are going to do everything they can to stop him, so he has to be more than mature.”
And if this new, mature Suarez ends up guiding Uruguay to victory, how will he celebrate?
With a burger bought for him by club colleague and international rival Neymar, that’s how.
He revealed: “I have a bet with Neymar. The winner gets a burger.
“He is a great teammate and friend, and we always make jokes at Barcelona. Whoever will win this game will be enjoying himself, and the one who loses will be hearing about it from the other.”
