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SUAREZ MAKES FAREWELL VISIT TO MESSI

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Luis Suarez was spotted going to Lionel Messi’s house on Thursday amid doubts over his exit

Luis Suarez was spotted at Lionel Messi’s house on Thursday as the Barcelona pair’s respective futures look more and more unclear.

Messi is in deep talks with the La Liga giants over his future next season following his shock transfer request last month.

Suarez himself has been linked with a move away from the Camp Nou with Italian side Juventus circling around his availability. 

According to Daily Mail,  the Uruguayan forward was snapped at Messi’s house along with his wife Sofia Balbi, which has intensified speculation over whether the pair have said farewell as team-mates. 

The Barcelona attacking duo are not only best friends but also neighbours. It is understood Messi had a one-hour meeting with his father today about his future, with Suarez joining the Barcelona captain in a game of Padel before the meeting. 

Messi’s saga took another twist today as the Argentinian forward’s father Jorge, who also acts as his agent, confirmed that his son could stay at Barcelona this year and leave on a free transfer ahead of next season. 

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This statement comes just a day after Messi Senior told reporters that it would be very difficult for his son to remain a Barcelona player for the coming season. Manchester City, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain have all been linked with the player’s signature. 

The 33-year-old is currently in a legal dispute with Barcelona over a clause in his contract which states he can leave on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Messi attempted to activate that clause when he made the transfer request via burofax in August, but the Catalan club told their talisman that the clause expired on June 10.

LaLiga backed Barcelona on their stance, stating that any club who wants to sign Messi must pay his release clause, which stands at £630million. 

Messi’s father met with Barcelona earlier this week to come to an arrangement, but Barcelona stood firm on the issue. The player has not reported back for pre-season training and is currently still on strike.

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Meanwhile, Suarez was reportedly told by new Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman that he is no longer required at the Camp Nou.

The Dutch coach told the Uruguayan striker in a one-minute phone call that his time at Barcelona coach is over, despite Suarez being the third-highest goalscorer in the club’s history. 

Reports in Italy said that Juventus are looking to snap up the 33-year-old this summer for a deal worth £4.4million. 

The Serie A champions are willing to offer Suarez a £9million-a-year contract, with several bonus clauses to be added, according to Sky Sports Italia.

However, Suarez is reportedly demanding £22 million in severance pay, putting his proposed Juventus deal in doubt.  

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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