‘Feel bad for him!’ - Can Luis Suarez handle ‘real pain’ at Inter Miami & overcome injury issues to make a telling contribution alongside Lionel Messi?

The 37-year-old striker admitted when bringing a spell in Brazil at Gremio to a close in late 2023 that retirement had crossed his mind as he continues to battle long-standing knee issues. He was, however, talked into taking on one last challenge in the United States.

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Suarez has been reunited with form Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi in Florida, with their potentially devastating partnership in the final third tipped by many to carry the Herons towards more major honours in 2024.

Suarez has, however, found the going tough through pre-season and the start of the new MLS campaign. He has looked some way short of his fearsome best, with it suggested that fitness problems are preventing him from performing at anywhere close to 100 per cent.

Ex-United States international Twellman, who is now an MLS pundit, is among those who see Suarez as a shadow of his former self. He flagged a post on social media that read: “I was literally just wondering how the hell Luis Suarez won MVP of the Brazilian league last year and then @TaylorTwellman mentions that it doesn’t even look like the same player based on his limited movement.”

Twellman, who had just seen Suarez play 67 minutes of a 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy, responded by saying: “He looks like he’s in real pain and I’m not kidding. Feel bad for him.”

Inter Miami were always going to have to rest and rotate in a 2024 campaign that sees them competing on multiple fronts. For all of the obvious qualities that Messi, Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba bring, none of them are getting any younger and will not be able to play every game for Tata Martino’s side.