Gutted. Think professionally its a big mistake, but I understand his personal reasons. As ive said on the other thread, i believe his destination was always Barcelona, from the moment he left Uruguay, and Liverpool and Ajax were just stops in the way.
He gave his all and more, and all his madness comes from the fact that the man wants to win at all costs. He will do anything to suceed, and its what i have come to expect from every player around him. He brings that inner fire to the pitch and whoever plays around him seem to become better, more focused and hard working. He is so much more than just a goal scorer/genious player. It is SO RARE that a talent of his caliber comes accompanied with such a remarkable (and at moments humbling and inspiring) determination and work ethic, that i dont recall EVER witnessing such a complete player. Ive seen true world class players in my time, but none matched his will to win at any cost, and his effort.
He is so much more than just goals/assists and moments of magic (as if that wasnt just enough). We all just have to go trough the match threads from the season before last, when things were nothing like last season. He was by far the best player of the league, and our most outstanding player almost every match...even when he didnt score/assist, he pushed us forward and upwards. A one man Train Engine. He is a Duracell Bunny on steroids.
Im sad beyond belief, and im not even a Scouse. Im from Uruguay, and i have come to love this club before Luis ever arrived, for reasons ive explained before. You guys and us Uruguayans feel football in a very similar way, and i believe this was the place for him, professionally. He could have been a demi god here, a Legend, a King. But Barca was always on his mind, ever since his then girlfriend left Uruguay. It was on his mind when he left for Groennigen, when he played for Ajax coached by Van Basten, when he played for us coached by the great Kenny.
Cant blame him, I understand his motivations, but it doesnt make it any less heart breaking.
Replace him you say? Yes, he will be replaced, but i dont think there is another one like him around, the complete footballer. He cant be replaced, but we have to. Others will come and go, and a few are bound to excel, but i dont think we will see his raw talent in any player anytime soon, and i dont think he has reached his peak yet. Dont know if he will ever develop his full potential at Barca.
The team as a unit may do just as well without him, we may even challenge for the leage or win it. But his talent and madness while wearing the famous Red will be missed, at least by me. Good luck to him and his family
Sorry for the long rant, but my language is Spanish, and some things i wanted to say are hard to express in my own language, imagine trying in another
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