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Barcelona: 5 potential long-term replacements for Luis Suarez

By Benjamin Barkworth

07 October 2018, Saxony, Leipzig: 07 October 2018, Germany, Leipzig: Soccer: Bundesliga, Matchday 7: RB Leipzig vs 1. FC Nuremberg in the Red Bull Arena Leipzig. Leipzig's player Timo Werner celebrates the 4-0 goal. Photo: Jan Woitas/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTICE: DFL an d DFB regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video. (Photo by Jan Woitas/picture alliance via Getty Images)
07 October 2018, Saxony, Leipzig: 07 October 2018, Germany, Leipzig: Soccer: Bundesliga, Matchday 7: RB Leipzig vs 1. FC Nuremberg in the Red Bull Arena Leipzig. Leipzig's player Timo Werner celebrates the 4-0 goal. Photo: Jan Woitas/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTICE: DFL an d DFB regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video. (Photo by Jan Woitas/picture alliance via Getty Images) /
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Celta Vigo’s Uruguayan forward Maxi Gomez (R) shoots to score a goal during the Spanish league football match between RC Celta de Vigo and Club Atletico de Madrid at the Balaidos stadium in Vigo on September 1, 2018. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP) (Photo credit should read MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP/Getty Images)
Celta Vigo’s Uruguayan forward Maxi Gomez (R) shoots to score a goal during the Spanish league football match between RC Celta de Vigo and Club Atletico de Madrid at the Balaidos stadium in Vigo on September 1, 2018. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP) (Photo credit should read MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP/Getty Images) /

Maxi Gomez

It would be quite fitting for a fellow Uruguayan to replace Suarez at Barcelona. The 22-year-old is reminiscent of his older compatriot in that he possesses the spirit of the ‘Garra Charrua’ in his playing style as is common with players from the small South American nation. It’s essentially a fighting spirit to add to the technical ability which is most on display in the toughest of games when the odds are stacked against them.

Suarez showed this tenacity most in his first two seasons when he helped Barcelona to a treble in 2014-15 as well as having his best individual season in 2015-16. Therefore, having a player to fill the role with the same mentality would be beneficial. Gomez’s adjustment to Spanish football has been quick because this is only his second season in Europe, nevermind Spain, after joining Celta Vigo from Uruguayan side Defensor in the 2017 summer transfer window.

17 goals and four assists in 39 games was an impressive return for a Celta side that didn’t live up to expectations in his debut season. They have been able to keep together the attacking trio of Gomez, Iago Aspas and Pione Sisto so they have a number of potent attacking weapons to lead Antonio Mohamed’s free-flowing, high pressing style.

Out of the 13 goals Célticos have scored this season, Gomez has bagged four and assisted four. Therefore, he is a key attacking tool for his side and is on course to pass his tally in the league from 2017-18. He has more of a physical presence than Suarez so he can be used as an outlet and is a major aerial threat in the final third. However, he is also adept at bringing teammates into play because he averages 1.3 key passes and shields the ball well with 2.8 fouls on him per game this season, per WhoScored.

He is overperforming his xG of 2.21 this season which is similar to last season when he had an xG of 16.01, although his xA of 0.91 this season is worrying because he appears to be the beneficiary of expert finishing from his teammates, per Understat. His ability to hold up play and be the pivot which the attacking play rotates around could work well due to how he associates with other as well as being an all-round threat in the penalty box.