Barcelona Lessons and a Modern Routine
Luis Suárez, the Uruguayan forward for Inter Miami, shares intimate details about his private life, his daily routine, and his evolving rapport with Lionel Messi.
In an interview with the Spanish newspaper Sport, he says: “Physically, I feel good. Over the years you learn to use tools that help you take care of yourself to achieve better performance.” He adds that after training, barefoot running is part of a routine that keeps him energized throughout the day; previously he trained for about 90 minutes, then returned home and rested on the couch after workouts.
“All of that used to make me feel lazy—indifferent, as some would say in Spain. I spent most of the day lying down,” he explains. “Recently I changed some routines, and it keeps me active; I never feel tired, and I stay moving, which helps me reach the night with energy. Naturally, my presence in matches has changed a lot.”
He notes that doing this at 38 is unusual, and many people—perhaps even himself—are reconsidering the tools available today: nutrition, preventive work before and after training, gyms run by others in the evenings. “In our era, not all of this existed,” he says. “If all this had existed, maybe I would have performed even better. Perhaps that line of thinking is wrong; maybe my body needed the old ways, while today football has evolved massively and is more professional.”
He continues: “It’s not that players of the past weren’t professionals, but their era was different—every era has its conditions. Still, I believe these tools have improved football. We, the older generation playing today, see them as aids to ongoing development. We care for ourselves and strive to play at our best.”
“Being rebellious brought me here,” he adds. “I often think I could be an example of defiance, of resilience, of continuing to fight. Yet there are many things I am not an example of, and I accept that.”
He recalls: “I always fought against criticism: I started at Nacional at 18 and was criticized for missing goals. Then came my Dutch years, where they said I was fat, even at Ajax. Later at Liverpool I faced questions about my conduct, and at Barcelona about rough patches. Throughout my career I fought the same battle.”
“Perhaps I felt stronger hearing criticism, but it wasn’t something I enjoyed. Criticism pushed me to be stronger; it never discouraged me, and I never showed people that I was defeated. The louder the critics, the stronger I wanted to be.”
“The rebellious streak began early. We didn’t have enough to eat; I was always forced to find food for myself and my family. Since I was a child, I fought for everything. Nothing was easy, and nothing came easy. That’s what made me keep pushing.”
He adds: “As the years passed, Messi and I grew closer on the pitch, and over time we got to know each other well off it too. We know when the other is in a good or bad mood. We spend long hours playing football together—a beautiful phase we are living and enjoying.”
“There are no words to describe Messi. On the pitch he’s unique; his hunger to win is shared by us all. But you can feel his spirit in everything he does. Sometimes the team wins, but he wants to monitor a particular teammate and doesn’t fulfill it; he gets angry, and when he puts his goals away, he achieves them, which inspires us all.”
He continues: “Those who have lived with Messi know his drive, and you feel calm if he is well, and that shows in everyone.”
Regarding who was better—Liverpool Suárez or Barcelona Suárez—he replies: “Liverpool in 2013/2014 had everything going well; it was a special period. Barcelona Suárez was different because of the space and the role required.”
He concludes: “I learned at Barcelona to play with one touch in a 10x10 meter space, something I didn’t do at Liverpool. At Liverpool I had 40 meters to run and improvise; at Barcelona I had to pass more accurately, which made me a better player.”
And with a final wink, football fans can expect even more evolution: “The rest is history—and a great playlist for endurance.”
Punchline: If discipline were a goal, I’d probably have a shelf full of golden boots—and a few missing meals to match.
Punchline 2: At 38, I run so much that even my shadow needs cardio—talk about cardio commitments!
