Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has confirmed that Luis Suarez will make his long-awaited debut for the club in Saturday’s first El Clasico of the season away to Real Madrid.
Suarez has been restricted to friendly matches since sealing a £75 million ($127 million, 95 million euros) move from Liverpool after receiving a four-month ban for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.
“He will have some minutes for sure,” Enrique told a press conference on Thursday. “How many I cannot say, that is the million dollar question. It is an important occasion for him to be able to join in with the group.”
And Enrique insisted that he wasn’t concerned that the Uruguayan’s questionable temperament could be tested by the pressure of making his bow in the biggest game in world football.
“Clasicos have to be heated, enjoyable and the best show possible for the fans, but staying within the sporting parameters.”
Whilst Suarez’s availability adds to Barca’s attacking arsenal alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar, Real Madrid will be without one of their key men in Gareth Bale due to injury.
However, Enrique echoed the words of his Madrid counterpart Carlo Ancelotti in saying the Welshman’s absence wouldn’t affect his side’s preparation for the game.
“Independent of who is in Ancelotti’s starting line-up, we will maintain our philosophy. It is obvious that both sides will continue to play in their own different ways.”
Other than the debate over whether Suarez will start or make his debut as a substitute, the only other doubt in the Barca team surrounds midfielder Sergio Busquets.
The Spanish international missed Barca’s 3-1 win over Ajax in midweek due to a hip injury, but Enrique is confident he will be fit to take his place in the side at the Bernabeu.
“Busquets is fine, he has trained with the rest of the group and in principle can play without any problems.”
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