In 2020, FC Barcelona made a decision that would come back to haunt them — they decided they no longer needed Luis Suárez.
The Uruguayan striker, a club legend and one of the greatest forwards in Barcelona’s history, was sold to Atlético Madrid for just £6.5 million. What made the situation even more painful was the way the decision was communicated.
According to Suárez, then-manager Ronald Koeman informed him over a brief phone call.
“The call from Koeman to tell me that he didn’t count on me lasted 40 seconds. It’s not the way to fire a legend.”
Suárez explained that the message was confusing and lacked clarity, leaving him feeling disrespected after years of service to the club.
“First he told me that I was not in his plans and then he told me that if I did not resolve my contract I was going to play against Villarreal. He lacked the personality to tell me things clearly, if he didn’t want me or if it was really the club that didn’t want me.”
What followed was one of the most satisfying football revenge stories in recent history.
After joining Atlético Madrid, Suárez rediscovered his hunger and purpose. He went on to score 21 league goals, playing a decisive role in Atlético’s title-winning campaign.
That season, Atlético Madrid lifted the La Liga trophy for the first time in seven years, finishing above Barcelona and Real Madrid.
And when Suárez scored against Barcelona, the moment carried extra meaning. He celebrated with emotion — not arrogance, but a reminder of what happens when a legend is written off too easily.
Barcelona moved on. Suárez moved forward. And football remembered who truly lost that decision.