Suárez says he spent days in tears amid rift with Barcelona

Striker Luis Suárez said Thursday his former club Barcelona treated him so unfairly that he spent days in tears before his departure to Atlético Mrid.

In ar sign he can still deliver to his teams, Suárez scored Uruguay's first goal from spot in 2-1 home victory against Chile in opening round of South American World Cup qualifiers on Thursday. 33-year-old also scored two goals in his debut for his new club in Spain on Sept. 27.

striker said his strong start at Atlético eases pain he felt from leaving Barça, where he was on a team that won 13 titles since arriving in 2014 from Liverpool, including four Spanish league trophies and Champions League in 2015. He is club's third all-time leing scorer with 98 goals.

“I didn't take it very well because of way y (Barcelona) did it, more than anything. One has to accept when his cycle is over,” Suárez told Uruguay soccer association television after victory against Chile in Montevideo.

“It was days I spent crying because of situation I was living. n (I went back) to enjoying myself, once again be valued as a player, be loved, feel care of a club that welcomed me marvelously,” he ded.

Atlético will pay Barcelona up to 6 million euros ($7 million) in fees for Suárez, who signed a two-year deal with club.

Suárez was informed of Barcelona's decision to get rid of him through a call from new coach Ronald Koeman, hired after team was thrashed 8-2 by Bayern Munich in Champions League quarterfinals. Dutchman denied he was solely responsible for Uruguayan's departure.

Hard-hit financially by coronavirus pandemic, Barça also needed to reduce its expenditure.

“re are things that are t kwn,” Suárez said. “But to go to Barcelona and be sent to train separately because you don't belong among 22 players... My wife was one that saw my upset, with my he down.”

Suárez denied he refused an offer from Juventus to remain in Spain, as his family wished.

“y just wanted to see me happy,” he said.

Suárez said he was t surprised by public defense of him me by Lionel Messi, who attacked Barça's manment for its treatment to Uruguayan. On Sept. 25, Messi posted a photo of himself with Suarez on Instagram,.

“It is going to be so strange seeing you in ar shirt, and even stranger to have to play against you,” Messi wrote. “You deserved a sending-off fit for what you are: one of most important players in club history, both for what you did for group and individually — t one y gave you. But it is true that at this point thing surprises me.”

Barcelona is experiencing a political crisis that could end with removal of president Josep María Bartomeu, seen by many analysts as main targets of Messi and Suárez in ir criticism of club's manment.

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