The affectionate relationship between Luis Suárez and Real Madrid | OneFootball

Journalist Enrique Ortego publishes an article in Relevo in which he recalls Luis Suárez's fond relationship with Real Madrid:

“Luis Suárez always had a particular admiration for Real Madrid, a club that remained extremely present throughout his career. First, as the great rival during his time at Barcelona, a role that would later be played by Milan during his stint at Inter. On occasions, sat around the table following a long, leisurely meal, he'd recall with a smile how he could have signed for the Bernabéu club prior to making his move to Barcelona. 'Me and Barcelona happened by chance, I was included in a deal that was nothing to do with me. I was 18 years old. They really wanted Dagoberto Moll and they put me in to pad out the deal. The Deportivo president at the time didn't like how I played. I don't know why, but he didn't like me, so I played about four games, give or take (in reality, 17 Primera División appearances). Before the transfer, which was in 1954, I played a league game for Deportivo against Valladolid at Riazor, and Real Madrid's technical secretary at the time, Juan Antonio Ipiña his name was, came up to see me. I must have played so badly that they never came back. Valladolid had a really strong central midfield in Ortega and Lassala and the two of them didn't give me a touch. Then they said they'd only come to watch out of interest and I thought: "Well, I've really screwed that up!"

“Over time, Real Madrid would turn into somewhat of a 'black beast' for Suárez. ‘In LaLiga we were the two big boys, but in Europe, Real Madrid called the shots. It was the era when they won the five consecutive European Cups'. He would often talk in glowing terms of Florentino Pérez, too. ‘Without knowing me at all, I was in the Bernabéu box one day and he came over to greet me so affectionately. I think he told me his father had watched me play and had always said I should have played for Real Madrid. After that, whenever he saw me, he'd always greet me especially warmly and that's not the norm in football. A real gentleman. I always thought so."

His long talks with Di Stéfano “The Galician believed the Argentine was the greatest footballer he had ever seen. ‘Watching him play was like a whole different dimension. You had to see it, it's never enough just to hear about him. And what's more, the bastard played for Real Madrid. Whenever we got together for the national team, he'd always tell me to come and play there. 'Hey, Gallego, come to Madrid', over and over again. He told me he'd speak to Don Santiago, as he called Bernabéu, and convince him for sure."