Emotional Luis Suarez admits he ‘knows’ it’s the end of his era at Barcelona

Luis Suarez broke down in tears at his Barcelona goodbye press conference and nodded in the direction of president Josep Bartomeu when asked if he had any reproaches over his forced departure.

He kept his counsel for the most part with the president alongside him and a favourable deal to join Barcelona’s rivals Atletico Madrid already sealed, but he did condemn lies and leaks that he said had marked his final weeks at the club.

With team-mates Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, Gerard Pique, Sergio Roberto and Sergi Busquets looking on at the Camp Nou, Suarez could barely get the words out as he tried to make his last speech as a Barca player.

An emotional Luis Suarez broke down in tears as he said goodbye to Barcelona after six years

Suarez struggled to get his words out at times as he expressed his gratitude to the club

Suarez, who also said goodbye to his personal locker inside the Nou Camp dressing room on Thursday with his family alongside him, joined Barca in 2014 and helped the club win four LaLiga titles, four Copa del Rey crowns and the Champions League in 2015. 

He referenced the club’s faith in still signing him from Liverpool in the summer of 2014 despite his bite of Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup, which led to a four-month ban from all football activities.  

He only got as far as ‘I want to thank,’ before he had to stop to compose himself. 

He then thanked the club saying: ‘They knew I had come from making that mistake (the World Cup bite) and they still wanted to support me and bring me in. 

‘It was a dream for me to play at the best club in the world. I have made many friends too so that also makes me very happy.

‘It’s a player leaving but it is also a human being with feelings who goes. I want to remember all the nice moments, the titles, the goals and the chance to play with the best player in history.’

Suarez and his family emerge onto the pitch at the Nou Camp to take one final look around

Suarez and wife Sofia Balbi smile as they pose on the pitch at Barcelona ahead of his departure

The Suarez family – wife Sofia and children Delfina, Lautaro and Benjamin pose with trophies

Suarez also said goodbye to his personal locker inside Nou Camp on Thursday

The Uruguayan striker poses for a picture with his children inside the Barca dressing room

But asked if there were any reproaches he nodded Bartomeu’s way and said: ‘For me or for …’ 

He had a smile on his face but the message was clear.

Suarez also grinned and nodded when one reporter asked him if he felt the decision to get rid of him had been Koeman’s or someone else’s. 

But Suarez admitted it was quickly clear new Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman didn’t want him as part of his revamped team. 

He said: ‘The club needed changes and the coach didn’t count on me. I want to show that I can still perform at a high level. 

‘When the coach told me I knew because it was already done.

‘It was a crazy month. Things have been invented and leaked, there…