Atletico Madrid carried out a special farewell event for Mario Suárez at the Vicente Calderón. Suarez was flanked with the trophies he won in his time as a Atleti player: La Liga, Copa del Rey, Europa League, two Euro Super Cups and a Spanish Super Cup.
The club then showed a special highlights video featuring the player’s time at the club with the #graciasmario hashtag showcasing his 18 years at the Madrid based club.
He was also presented with a club shirt signed by the full squad and a commemorative plaque with “we will never forget you” etched as a memento. An emotional Suarez then fielded questions from the assembled media:
Is this a ‘see you later’ or a ‘goodbye’? “I’ll always be an Atleti fan. I’ll hang onto my season ticket and will be back one day”
Why Fiorentina? “They showed plenty of interest in acquiring me from the start. I also spoke with Borja Valero and that was a factor too. I like the way they play and I think it will suit my game”.
A loan deal or a complete move? “I’ve signed with the Serie A club for four seasons and I’m excited about the experience. I’m looking forward to establishing myself in the team and competing regularly”
The video: “It brought so many memories back. It’s not easy to win so many titles in a space of just five years. I feel very proud to have represented the club”.
One standout memory: “There are so many. My first day at Amoros was special, my first training session with the first team, first game against Sevilla, first title, so many great memories. I can only find words of appreciation”.