Suarez lifts the lid on how Koeman ditched him

A year on since that infamous phone call from Ronald Koeman, Luis Suarez has lifted the lid on how the Barcelona manager said ‘goodbye to a legend’.

Luis Suarez has revealed how Ronald Koeman told him he no longer had a future at Barcelona in just 40 seconds.

Shortly after replacing the sacked Quique Setien last year, Koeman called Suarez to tell him he was surplus to requirements. The Dutchman, though, has claimed the decision to sell the striker was taken by those above him – namely the club’s previous board, led by Josep Maria Bartomeu.

But the manner in which he relayed the news to Suarez, a legend who had helped deliver countless goals and silverware across a six-year period at Camp Nou, left an unfavorable impression on the Uruguayan.

Speaking to Gerard Romero on Twitch about the infamous phone call, Suarez said: “The call from Koeman to tell me that [I wasn’t in his plans] lasted 40 seconds. It’s not the way to say goodbye to a legend.

“First, he told me that I wasn’t in his plans, and then he told me that if I didn’t get my contract sorted out I was going to play against Villarreal. He lacked the personality to tell me clearly if he didn’t want me or if it was really the club that didn’t want me.”

Suarez, who left Atletico Madrid soon afterward, added: “They were very difficult days because of everything I gave to the club.

“I spoke to Sofia [Suarez’s wife] and Leo [Messi] after the phone call. It was a complicated year due to everything. Messi asked to leave, and I was being sent away. Both of our families had a very bad time.”