Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has played down suggestions that his teammate Lionel Messi is nearing his retirement from playing.
Messi said, upon receiving his record sixth Ballon d’Or trophy earlier this week, that he would be approaching the end of his playing career soon.
The Argentine superstar celebrated his 32nd birthday last summer and whilst it has not been reflected in his performances, there are concerns that he is approaching the autumn of his career.
Suarez has been teammates with Messi at the Camp Nou since joining from Liverpool in the summer of 2014 and the two have formed part of a devastating attack in the years since.
“I think that those comments were misunderstood," Suarez told beIN Sports.
“You have to understand that Leo had just won a new Ballon d'Or [award] at that point, and he was really happy but also nervous because he is a human being like everyone else.
“Messi will be around for a long time."
