Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has held 'positive' talks over a return to his former club Nacional in Uruguay.
Nacional club president Jose Fuentes travelled to Spain this week to negotiate a transfer for the veteran frontman. Earlier this summer, Suarez confirmed that a move to South America was a possibility as he prioritises first-team football ahead of this winter's World Cup in Qatar.
Suarez left Atletico Madrid at the end of the campaign after two seasons. His goals helped fire Diego Simeone's side to the league title in his first season at the club – netting 21 times to secure Atleti's first league title in seven years – but struggled to replicate that form in his second term.
The Uruguayan – who has been linked to multiple clubs in this summer transfer window as a free agent – remains synonymous in English football with his three-and-a-half year spell at the Reds between 2011 and 2014, in which he bagged 82 goals in 133 appearances before moving on to Barcelona.
While Nacional are eyeing a sensational homecoming from the striker, Sky Germany report they face competition from Borussia Dortmund after the player's representatives offer him to the club. It comes after the German club's new striker Sebastien Haller was diagnosed with a testicular tumour. The Ivorian striker's diagnosis was confirmed by his club on Monday.
Dortmund would offer Suarez the opportunity to play football at the top level including in the Champions League – they are on the lookout for a striker to help fill the void left by Erling Braut Haaland's move to Manchester City this summer.
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The striker began his professional career at Uruguayan club Nacional, where he spent four years in their youth system after joining as a 14-year-old. He netted 12 goals in 35 appearances for the first team before being snapped up by Dutch club Groningen in 2006.
The Uruguayan club's fans have begun a social media campaign with the hashtag #SuarezANacional as they raise their hopes of a stunning deal being concluded. Their club president Fuentes spoke to Suarez in Spain this week in talks that have been described by Marca as 'positive'. The striker did not give a firm answer either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ – as he is keeping his options open, but this is seen as a positive by Nacional.
Suarez encouraged the club to approach him earlier this summer after a move to Argentine giants River Plate fell through: "I was very excited about the possibility of going to River Plate to fight to win the Copa Libertadores. It was a dream that I had to win a cup in South America. However, as soon as River were eliminated that possibility is over.
"A month and a half ago I declared that I was not going to leave Europe, but River insisted and insisted so much that I came to consider that possibility. As much as one says something, when the time comes you will consider it. You are excited that they love you so much. A player needs to see affection. River was giving it to me and Nacional could have tried that."
