The announcement of Luis Suárez’s retirement from the Uruguayan national team excited many and surprised others, who thought that the Pistolero could extend his stay with the Celeste a little longer. One of them was Diego Lugano, who said that, “even though it was expected,” he is “a little emotional about what his departure from the national team means.”
“I was a little surprised, but every player has his own physical, professional and family times,” he said, referring to the honor that Suárez gave him yesterday at the press conference: “He doesn’t need to name me or anything, everyone knows the friendship we have had for many years. At times there were complicated situations around him and he knows well who was by his side.”
“I am happy with the career he had and with everything he gave to us Uruguayans on the field, being one of the best players in the history of our country, and off the field, with a commitment to his football and his people that is very difficult to find among world stars,” the former captain of Uruguay said in conversation with I want football the radio Sport 890.
“There are many talented players, but not those with that mental strength, reverence and lack of respect, in a good way,” he analyzed, and spoke about his present: “With the few minutes he had in the Copa América and with what he is doing in the United States, we saw that he is current. From that point of view, one would like him to continue a little longer, but he has his times.”
He then referred to the generation of South Africa 2010, which left its mark on the whole country: “A group of players, men, formed who had a very healthy way of communicating and acting. People quickly identified with that, the national team is above clubs, interests… above everything.”
“I can’t get out of my head the image of when we were champions of America, we were all celebrating in the locker room and Luis was missing. I went to the bathroom and he was locked in, alone, crying and talking to someone; he was crying out of relief,” he recalled, and said to praise his personality: “He was the only player who crossed the entire field to curse me.”
And he added another fact that makes him proud: “In 2016 or 2017 we had a WhatsApp group with all the captains of the A and B teams. The national team had sent money to the B team and half an hour before playing a classic between Barcelona and Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, a message from him appeared in the group asking if the B team had already been paid. I didn’t understand anything.”
“The most important goal he scored, for me, was the equaliser against Ecuador in 2009. Night was falling and there was no ‘Tabarez process’, South Africa, Copa America… nothing. The best goals, obviously, were the two against England,” he said, and continued with the subject of the 2014 World Cup: “He doesn’t have to apologise for anything.” [por su conducta contra Italia]. If we reached that Cup it was because he scored goals in the qualifiers in the most difficult moments and with England he carried the team on his shoulders.”
“Against Italy they provoked him throughout the match [Giorgio]
Chiellini as [Leonardo] Bonucci and Thiago Motta, the match was very heated. The madman responded to this provocation and two or three minutes later, Chiellii was a little distracted, losing his mark [Diego] Godín, Uruguay’s goal and we qualified, he even helped us in that. Afterwards it was all an exaggeration motivated by the political moment in Uruguay with FIFA and Conmebol. We lost him in his best years,” he added.
“It was one of the moments where I punished myself the most for not being able to change the situation because what we experienced that day was so much indignation, rage and helplessness accumulated by the injustice that was being committed. We saw what no one else saw. It took us out of context,” he concluded.
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