Luis Suarez pledges to play with 'more intelligence' ahead of Uruguay return

23 March 2016 13:23

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez vowed to play with "more intelligence" but maintain the same attitude when he returns from a nine-month international suspension for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup this weekend.

The 29-year-old Barcelona forward was back training with his Uruguay team-mates this week after also serving a four-month ban from all football-related activity for the incident in the Brazil showpiece.

Suarez has scored 43 goals in 43 appearances for the Primera Division leaders so far this season and is set to return for his country against Brazil this weekend before they take on Peru next Tuesday in the second of two World Cup qualifiers.

The former Liverpool striker told reporters ahead of Friday's match in Recife: " I am going to have the same attitude, I will still run, still pressure, still argue because no one is going to change the way I play.

"But with moderation, like I am doing now at Barcelona, being more intelligent about a lot of things, trying to take advantage of the situations life is putting in front of me...

"The only thing I want to do is play with the national side again and enjoy the warmth of the fans."

Suarez also joked that he had a wager of a hamburger with club team-mate, Brazil international Neymar, over the outcome of this weekend's match.

He told mundodeportivo.com: "We are partners and above all encourage the winner to lose.

"We have bet a burger with Neymar. Whoever loses will have to pay, of course.

"Neymar is a very good partner, we are always joking at the club, but whoever wins will enjoy and whoever loses will receive the breath of the other, because we are all comrades above all things.

"Everyone will do his best for selection and give the maximum for his country."

Suarez admitted that he did not feel under pressure as he returned to the Uruguay squad, adding: "What happened allows me to learn to get all the pressure off me. Uruguay is a very united group that does not depend on anyone."

Source: PA