Luis Suarez will leave Atletico Madrid at the end of the season, the club announced on Sunday before their La Liga match against Sevilla.
Atletico chose to reveal the forward’s imminent departure before the conclusion of the campaign so that he could be honoured at Wanda Metropolitano. Midfielder Hector Herrera will also exit this summer as he is set to join the Houston Dynamo.
Suarez became emotional as he received a huge ovation from Atletico fans after being substituted in the second half.
“Thanks for making us champions,” said a banner at the stadium. Suarez was key in the team’s title run last season after joining from Barcelona, but gradually lost his starting place and only played a few minutes off the bench recently.
A late second-half header from Youssef En-Nesyri earned Sevilla a 1-1 draw against the hosts, securing Julen Lopetegui’s side Champions League qualification despite extending their winless run to four games.
With Real Madrid already crowned champions and both Barcelona and Atletico assured of a top-four finish, the pressure was on Sevilla, who had drawn their previous three games.
They fell behind when Atletico defender Jose Maria Gimenez scored the opener with a header in the 30th minute.
Yet Sevilla equalised five minutes from full-time following a mistake by Reinildo Mandava, who gifted the ball to Oliver Torres on the edge of his own area and the former Porto midfielder crossed perfectly for En-Nesyri to score for Sevilla.
Barcelona were held to a goalless draw at Getafe, but still wrapped up a second-place finish in La Liga to secure a spot in the lucrative Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Martinez brace
A double from Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez earned Inter Milan a 3-1 win at Cagliari on Sunday, a victory that ensured the Serie A title race will go to the final weekend for the first time since 2008.
With leaders AC Milan having beaten Atalanta 2-0 at the San Siro earlier on Sunday, Inter had to win in Sardinia to keep the title race alive, edging in front in the 25th minute through Matteo Darmian.
Martinez added a second six minutes after the break for Inter and they appeared on course for a comfortable ninth win in 10 matches in all competitions, before Charalampos Lykogiannis arrowed in a strike out of nowhere to get Cagliari back in it.
The victory ensured Inter remained two points behind Milan going into the final round.
The champions must beat Sampdoria at home on Sunday, and hope Milan lose at Sassuolo, if they are to defend the Scudetto.
“It wasn’t easy after Milan’s win, but the team played really well against a tough opponent,” coach Simone Inzaghi told DAZN.
“I congratulate my team, because this was by no means to be taken for granted, especially after playing 120 minutes on Wednesday (in the Coppa Italia final).”
