Mercato: who is Luis Suarez, OM’s new Colombian attaché? – Soccer

Olympique de Marseille announced on Monday evening an agreement with Granada for the transfer of Colombian striker Luis Suarez, not to be confused with his Uruguayan namesake who has just left Atletico Madrid. A surprise arrival and a player little known to the general public.

Luis Suarez is OM’s new attacking recruit

The surprise was only major for a few seconds but the supporters of Olympique de Marseille did not have to believe their eyes Monday evening when they saw their club announcer the arrival of Luis Suarez. Except that it was not the Uruguayan passed by Liverpool, FC Barcelona or Atletico Madrid, but a Colombian striker who arrives from Granada.

A hard-hitting and dynamic striker, but still perfectible in the finish

This 24-year-old Luis Suarez is much less known to the general public than the gunslinger. The Santa Marta native comes out of a season with 8 goals and 4 assists in 37 La Liga matches with Granada, including 34 as a starter. He is the second top scorer in his team behind Jorge Molina (10 goals). The stat that should be poured into a second season in the league, may be in the cells of a viable goleader. The Colombian international has room for improvement on arrival.

Able to play up front but less his advantage in back-to-goal play, Suarez could be better suited in a role supporting the center forward in the 3-4-2-1 of new Marseille coach Igor Tudor or on a all in 3-4-3. He is a powerful attacker, he likes to cause duels and he is able to pass a defender thanks to his rein stroke. In addition, he is not stingy with effort on the front of the attack, especially in the pressing, which fits the game philosophy of the Croatian coach. A profile that Marseille president Pablo Longoria had time to study since OM already changed him two years ago.

Villas-Boas noticed it in 2020

In the summer of 2020, the Colombian came out of his best season statistically with 19 goals and 6 assists during a loan to Real Zaragoza, in the Spanish second division. His good performances available caught the eye of André Villas-Boas, Marseille coach at the time, who had placed the player on a list of potential targets, before seeing Luis Henrique land on the Canebire. The Brazilian will never have succeeded in imposing himself there.

For his part, Suarez a spotted final by Granada Watford for 7 million euros. An opportunity to discover La Liga after spells in loan at Real Valladolid, Gimnastic de Tarragona and therefore Zaragoza in the lower Spanish divisions. For the moment, the Marseille rookie therefore still lacks experience at the highest level, he who has only eight Europa League matches (2 goals) as European experience. It is more in a double role that Colombia is first expected. Unless he wins very quickly by piling up the goals.

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