It's been a while since Luis Suárez signed with Inter Miami in the latter stages of 2023. An integral member to date, with the Supporters' Shield win alongside Lionel Messi and company, Suárez became an even bigger name in the Major League Soccer world. However, what seemed like a normal 'title' celebration got a bit or reasonably heated on social media, all because of a simple caption on Instagram.
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The problem, at least for the fans of Grêmio, came with the caption that Suárez published-under a photo taken with his teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba-celebrating the Supporters' Shield triumph: "Vamos, Inter." Although the reference was clearly to Inter Miami, such a phrase triggered reactions among Brazilian fans of Grêmio, who immediately linked "Inter" with their biggest rival in Brazilian soccer, Internacional.
Suárez, Inter Miami, and the Impact of Social Media Captions
Inter Miami has been grabbing headlines around the world with a few high-profile signings, while their campaign in the MLS has been decent so far. The team's Supporters' Shield win sealed their regular season with Suárez and Messi at the top. However, Suárez's post on social media to celebrate the title with his teammates appeared a little provocative, though unintended, to fans of Grêmio.
And then, in the comments, it was like an avalanche of hilarious responses. "Delete that caption, bro," one fan wrote. "Here it's Grêmio!" another wrote in hopes to "correct" Suárez. The mention of Internacional-Grêmio's biggest rival-was all it took for a few to engage playfully since fans couldn't help but notice the coincidence of Suárez playing for a team with the same name as their archrival, even though it's Inter Miami in the U.S.
Suárez starts a new chapter with Inter Miami
Luís Suárez, signed until the end of 2024 with Inter Miami, has been quite fundamental in the recent successes of the team in Major League Soccer. Furthermore, the Uruguayan forward formed one of the most sensational attack pairs in the league with Lionel Messi. Since he signed, Suárez has scored some crucial goals that have helped Inter Miami rise to the top of the regular season table in the MLS.
The 3-2 victory against Columbus Crew was the highlight of Inter Miami's regular season. With two goals from Messi, one from Suárez, the team conquered the Supporters' Shield two rounds in advance, solidifying itself as one of the most powerful teams in the league. It was the second time Inter Miami had secured the trophy, but this time, it got even more attention because of its star-studded lineup.
Suárez: Still an Idol at Grêmio
To Grêmio's faithful, however, Suárez remains a hero. The entire year he was with the Brazilian club in 2023 saw him leave an indelible mark, scoring 29 goals and providing 17 assists in 54 matches. Grêmio's supporters still remember with affection his intervention in winning the Campeonato Gaúcho and finishing runner-up in the Brasileirão. This attachment explains at least in part the envy and playful reactions that followed Suárez's post to mark such a pivotal moment in his career in the U.S.
Suárez's Journey at Inter Miami and His Impact on MLS
It's not only about the goals Luis Suárez has scored for Inter Miami. He came to the team with other big names, like Messi and Busquets, making the club one of the powerhouses in American soccer. The good relationship he built with Messi, which had made them one of the best tandems in Barcelona, was reestablished, and that chemistry certainly made Inter Miami perform better in MLS.
With Suarez on the squad, Inter Miami raised their level, not only on competitiveness but also on international relevance. It turned out to be one of the most chattered teams in world soccer, not because of the star players themselves but because of what they do in the pitch - something like the Supporters' Shield showed that.