Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has said that he is closest to Lionel Messi at the club. The Uruguayan, who joined the club in the summer of 2014, has struck up a great understanding, both on and off the field with Messi and Neymar, and has in general been a very important player for the club.
Suarez, who has adjusted very well with the Catalans, also spoke about why he connects best with Argentine captain, Messi and the others at the club he shares a good relationship with in an interview with Uruguay's El Pais.
When asked about why he felt Messi was his closest friend at the club, Suarez said, "Leo has an older child than Benja and one younger than Delfi, and the kids play”. The former Liverpool man has two children, Benjamin and Delfina, and they are in the same age group as Lionel Messi's children, Thiago and Mateo.
Elaborating further, the Uruguayan said, “With Leo, we are the same age and we share anecdotes from when we were teens, our partners also get along well." All in all, it seemed clear that he feels comfortable with Messi around, and treasures the friendship he shares with the Argentinian.
The tricky striker also shares a good friendship with Brazilian Neymar and Argentinian Javier Mascherano, the latter also having played for Suarez's previous club, Liverpool.
He was also asked about the partnership he has formed with Messi and Neymar and how their trio, fondly called MSN, thrives. The 29-year-old then went on to say, "There's always something we laugh about. We laugh on and off the pitch. Ney is a happy guy, Leo too, although people don't think it. Results are going our way and this helps too."
Luis Suarez has had a brilliant season at Barcelona so far, having scored 43 goals in 43 appearances at an average of a goal every game. He has also been very good at linking up with his teammates, having provided 18 assists.
He will be playing for Uruguay for the first time since the FIFA World Cup in 2014, having been banned nine international matches for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini in their group match against Uruguay. He had been banned from all football-related activity for four months by FIFA, and could not start working with the Barcelona squad till October 2014.
However, since he started playing regularly for the Blaugrana in his regular position of striker, the club have been flying in all competitions, winning five trophies in 2015, and looking set to become the first club to defend their Champions League title in the Champions League era.