Luis Suarez lifts lid on personality clashes with ex-Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa before retiring from international duty with Uruguay

Suarez announced his retirement from international duties in September and gave an emotional press conference before playing his final game for Uruguay. The Inter Miami striker appears to have had a strained relationship with head coach Bielsa and has now dropped a huge bombshell interview, criticising the ex-Leeds boss for creating a hostile atmosphere.

• Imago

  WHAT SUAREZ SAID

  On the TV show De futbol se habla asi, Suarez said: “At the Celeste Complex, employees are not allowed to come in and greet us and eat with us. They have to be careful even at the door they have to enter. It breaks my heart that this is how life is in the Complex today.

  “Many players held a meeting to ask the coach to at least say good morning to us, but he didn’t even say hello. Bielsa gives a conference and talks wonderful things about people, and in New York, there was a day when he asked us not to stop to greet people and I stood up and told him that we were going to greet people anyway. Bielsa has separated the whole group, even in the way they train.”

  • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    The toxic environment inside the Uruguay dressing room is reflective of their recent form. They have not won a game in 90 minutes since the Copa America quarter-final in July, beating Brazil on penalties. Since the tournament, Bielsa’s side have drawn three games against Guatemala, Venezuela and Paraguay.

  • AFP

    WHAT NEXT FOR URUGUAY?

    The South American side will continue without Suarez this month. They face Peru and Ecuador in two World Cup qualifiers on October 12 and October 16.