Atlético Madrid have been urged to sell Luis Suarez to Aston Villa, if reports about Steven Gerrard trying to reunite with the striker are true.
Gerrard has already brought former Liverpool teammate Philippe Coutinho to Villa Park this month, and that might not be his final reunion, with it now alleged in England that he is eyeing a deal for Suarez as well.
The Uruguayan star is out of favour at Atlético, where injuries and age have caught up with him this season.
And according to Marca journalist Miguel Quintana, it’s a deal the Spanish side should be taking with both hands if it is offered.
He covers the potential transfer in a column for the newspaper today in which he makes it clear he thinks Suarez’s time at the Wanda Metropolitano is ‘de facto over’.
He would sell Suarez if there is an offer from the likes of Aston Villa and if not, makes clear he doesn’t believe a renewal should be on the cards either.
According to the journalist, Suarez is on the way out at 34, with his knee ‘less and less responsive’ and his signing ‘already more than paid for’.
The situation with Diego Simeone’s side has steadily been on the decline, and it’s now at a point where the Spanish side could end up losing out rather than gaining.
Since the second half of last season, Atlético have been struggling to use Suarez effectively as they can’t get him where he can ‘make the difference’; in the box.
The striker was effective when they won the title last season, but Suarez ‘is not useful’ this season. He can no longer press, counter-press, win duels or even play well and is only getting minutes because of his name.
That, says Quintana, is a problem in itself as Suarez is the kind of ‘predator’ who has to be useful and is not the ‘kind of professional’ who can deal with being a substitute.
Therefore it would be better for Atlético to ‘thank and sell now’ rather than prolong a situation which could be ‘agony for everyone’ in no time.
Of course, whether Aston Villa or anyone want to sign the veteran striker after reading this remains to be seen. If they were to read Quintana’s opinion, it’s easy to imagine they might look elsewhere.
