By Andrew Warshaw
August 20 – Luis Suarez insists he is a reformed character and won’t be biting opposition players ever again. The Uruguayan striker was officially presented to Barcelona’s fans on Tuesday five weeks after his transfer from Liverpool as a result of the terms of his four-month suspension from competitive action being modified by the Court of Arbitration for Sport which ruled, on appeal, that he could at least train and not be suspended from all football-related activities.
“I say to all the fans, don’t worry, because I won’t do that anymore,” said Suarez, whose infamous biting episode at the World Cup was the third of his career.
The Spanish league opens this coming weekend but Suarez, who played in a friendly last Friday when he appeared as a late substitute in a 6-0 win over Leon of Mexico, won’t be able officially start until October.
He told fans: “The suspension is what it is, and I have to accept it. After what happened I didn’t want to do anything. I was depressed. But while I was with my wife and children I had to accept reality. I asked for forgiveness as I had to do, and now I have to think about the present.”
Suarez didn’t say why he had resorted to taking his mood out on Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini but added: “I spoke to my psychologist and he said I had to face it and say sorry. I did – now I would rather focus on the present, which is Barcelona. Of course I was worried, but not only about the transfer (to Barcelona), but also about myself, for what I had done. I try to erase it. The lesson I take from it is personal.”
When he does start playing competitively Suarez will form arguably the most potent attack in the world alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar. Until then he will miss eight Spanish league matches and three of Barcelona’s six Champions League group matches. Since he is also suspended from the remaining eight games of a nine-match international ban, he will also miss next year’s Copa America.
“It hurts not playing for Barcelona but it hurts even more not playing for my country,” Suarez said. “I love my country. The fact that I will miss the next Copa America hurts very much. But I have to try and forget it.”
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