Barcelona forcing Luis Suarez out of the club and letting him join rivals Atletico Madrid is the worst transfer decision in modern football.
The Uruguayan striker has scored 16 goals in 17 La Liga games for Atletico, breaking a record held by Cristiano Ronaldo (when he joined Real Madrid) for the fastest player to reach that total at a new club this century. Astonishing.
Atletico Madrid are runaway Liga leaders: eight points above Barcelona and Real Madrid, and with a game in hand. All this with a player Barcelona were actively trying to get rid of for nothing.
No wonder Lionel Messi was fuming this summer after his close friend was pushed out of Camp Nou.
Advert
The player actually looked set to leave on a free to Juventus, having reportedly been told by Barcelona's incoming boss Ronald Koeman that he was not wanted. It was only after the deal to Juve fell through - and Barca realised their star striker joining Atletico for no money was a terrible look - that they hastily agreed a minimal fee, based on set targets.
Targets which Suarez looks set to smash. Barcelona have had a troubled time of it of late - rocked by financial problems and the fallout with Messi - but letting Suarez leave ranks up there with their most bizarre choices.
This is a player who scored 198 goals in just six seasons at the Catalan club and - even last year, when he had struggles with injury - managed a very decent return of 21 goals in 36 games.
Advert
He was also just 33 years old when Barca decided he wasn't worthy of a place in their squad. Hardly past-it for a player who looks after themselves as the 36-year-old Ronaldo or the free-scoring 39-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic are showing.
Moreover, Suarez is a player who thrives on proving people wrong. He's never more motivated than when he feels the world is against him - and now he's proving it once again but in Atletico's red-and-white stripes rather than Barca's blue and maroon.
Whether the fault lies with Koeman, with president Josep Maria Bartomeu, or can be shared among a collection of individuals, it's safe to say pushing a modern-day club legend out of the door - and into the arms of one of your biggest rivals - is an absolute disaster of a decision.
Advert
Perhaps the chaotic Catalan club should have listened to Messi when he shared his emotions on Instagram when Suarez left.
"It will be strange to see you in another shirt and much more to come up against you on the pitch," Messi wrote.
"You deserved a farewell that fit with who you are: one of the most important players in the history of the club. Someone who achieved great things for the team and on an individual level
Advert
"You did not deserve for them to throw you out like they did. But the truth is that at this stage nothing surprises me anymore."
All imagery: PA Images
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Football, Barcelona, Luis Suarez, La Liga
