Luis Suárez may have spent only one season at Grêmio, but it was enough for the Uruguayan to leave his mark at the club. In fact, he forged such a good relationship with coach Renato Portaluppi that they still talk to each other. On Wednesday, the Tricolor Gaúcho manager revealed he recently texted the Inter Miami striker with a hilarious trade proposal to bring Lionel Messi to Porto Alegre.
“This week I texted Suárez. ‘Our doctor Galdino used to leave you in front of the goal all the time. You’re not scoring goals there. Who knows if our doctor Galdino goes there and you send Messi here? Fair trade’,” Renato joked at a press conference following a 2-0 win over Novo Hamburgo, via Globo Esporte.
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Grêmio fly in state championship as Suárez struggles at Inter Miami preseason
While Suárez’s departure has been a huge loss for Grêmio, the Brazilian club is doing quite well despite his absence. Renato’s men are absolutely flying in the Campeonato Gaúcho (the state championship of Rio Grande do Sul), leading the standings with 15 points after six rounds (W5 L1).
Keep working 👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/1RcqbJsOJy
— Luis Suárez (@LuisSuarez9) January 29, 2024
The Uruguayan striker, on the other hand, has struggled to make an impact at his new club so far. Suárez has scored only one goal during Inter Miami’s preseason tour, in which the team has won just one out of six friendlies. The Herons will play one last exhibition match against Messi’s former club Newell’s Old Boys on February 15, six days before they host the Real Salt Lake in the inaugural game of the 2024 MLS season.
