It seems that the love story between Luis Suárez and Nacional will be short-lived, as the footballer will not continue playing for the Uruguayan side after the end of the year.

The player wanted to win a CONMEBOL-sanctioned trophy with Nacional, but he failed to lead the Uruguayans to the final stages of the Copa Sudamericana, where the white and blue side was eliminated by Atlético Goianense. Added to that, the footballer agreed to return to Uruguay under one condition: becoming a free agent by the end of 2022.

Speaking in an interview with Uruguayan TV show Punto Penal, Nacional's president José Fuentes admitted that Suárez has his sights set on leaving the club once the ongoing competition comes to an end.

"When the tournament ends, Suárez will leave Nacional. I have to be clear about this so there are no false hopes from our fans," Fuentes said.

Suárez's impact for the club has seen him score four goals in seven matches during the Clausura 2022 tournament, leading Nacional to the second spot in the competition against River Plate, although both teams are level with 22 points. His performances have seen the team's president praising the footballer, especially due to the commitment he has shown since Day One.

"Luis Suárez made a great effort to come here, and every time I have been asked this question my answer will be the same: he is leaving. I've said it, he's said it more than once, that was our deal," Fuentes stated.

President Fuentes refused to say where Suárez will be playing next, although sources close to the player hint that the former Barcelona ace may still want to try his goalscoring shoes in Europe, where he was linked to teams such as Juventus, Fenerbahce and Villarreal. Other options that have emerged for Suárez include moves to Liga MX and the MLS, where he has been linked to Inter Miami.