Uruguay's Suarez 'would never say no' to return

Luis Suarez has publicly criticised Marcelo Bielsa, who has coached Uruguay since May 2023 [Getty Images]

Luis Suarez has said he "would never say no" to a return to international football if Uruguay needed him for the upcoming World Cup.

The striker, 39, stopped making himself available for his country in September 2024 after claiming head coach Marcelo Bielsa had "divided the whole group".

However Uruguay's all-time leading goalscorer has now opened the door for a return after a 19-month absence from international football.

"I would never say no to the national team if they need me, especially with a World Cup coming up," Suarez told reporters as quoted by Spain's EFE news agency.

"At the time, I stepped aside to make way for the younger generation. I said something I shouldn't have said. I have already apologised to those I needed to apologise to."

Former Barcelona and Liverpool forward Suarez, who has 69 goals in international 143 appearances, has played in four World Cups for Uruguay since 2010.

He stopped a Ghana goal with a handball in the quarter-final of his first tournament in South Africa and was banned for four months after in four years later.