I’m paying for a mistake I made: Suarez
Luis Suarez trained with his Barcelona team-mates for the first time on Friday.
The 27-year-old then admitted he was still paying for his “mistake” in biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.
After getting the green light from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the Uruguayan striker was the centre of attention as he took part in his first training session with the Catalan club.
Suarez with the Barcelona coach Luis Enrique during a training session in Barcelona on Friday.
But afterwards, interviewed wearing a Barcelona shirt, he told the club website: “I’m paying for a mistake I made and one I have apologised for, but I have to forget about all this.
“I am only thinking about the future, which is at FC Barcelona, the club who I dreamed of playing for.”
After the uncertainty of the past weeks, he stressed: “I am really happy to feel like a footballer again, and to be with my team-mates. I just couldn’t wait to get started.”
Suarez took an active part in the session with the main group under the watchful eye of coach Luis Enrique.
Suarez training with team-mates on Friday
On Thursday, the CAS upheld Suarez’s four-month ban from playing in competitive games as well as his nine-match international suspension, but it did allow him to train and play in unofficial matches.
Suarez has reportedly been training on his own in an unknown location in Catalonia since completing his 95 million euros (S$158 million) move to the Camp Nou from Liverpool last month.
He will be available to play in competitive matches from Oct 25, meaning his official debut could come in the first Clasico of the campaign against Real Madrid.
Source: AFP
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now