Telling The Story Of Being Expelled By Koeman From Barca Over A 40-second Phone Call, Suarez: That's Not The Way To Say Goodbye To A Legend

JAKARTA - Luis Suarez opened his voice that Ronald Koeman "kicked" him from Barcelona through a phone call that lasted only 40 seconds.

The Uruguayan forward is considered a legend at Barcelona after six years with the Catalan club, during which he scored 198 goals, won four La Liga titles and a Champions League trophy.

However, he became one of the first players Koeman dumped in the summer of 2020 after the Dutchman replaced Quique Setien.

"The call from Koeman telling me (that I was no longer in his plans) only lasted 40 seconds," Suarez told Gerard Romero via Twitch, quoted by Antara on Thursday night.

"That's not how to say goodbye to a legend."

"At first he said I was not in his plans, then he said if my contract was not settled soon, I would play against Villarreal," continued the 34-year-old Atletico Madrid player.

"He didn't have the courage to speak out loud enough to explain whether it was he who didn't want me or the club that didn't want me."

Suarez added about how difficult the situation was for him, which was also experienced by his best friend Lionel Messi, who at that time wanted to leave Barca before finally moving to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

"Those were tough days after everything I gave to the club."

"I spoke to (my wife) Sofia and Leo after the call. It was a complicated year because of everything."

"Messi wanted to leave and I was dumped. Both of our families were really struggling."

After being expelled from Camp Nou, Suarez joined Atletico Madrid. He then helped the Spanish capital club win the 2020-21 La Liga season.