In honor of Liverpool legend Luis Suarez, Darwin Nunez has given up his famed shirt number as the two attackers prepare for Uruguay’s Copa America.

Luis Suarez has been named in Uruguay’s roster for the highly anticipated domestic competition by Marcelo Bielsa, marking the player’s first appearance for the national team since November 2023.

With the release of the national squad numbers ahead of Copa America, the 37-year-old veteran Suarez has taken back his well-known number nine. Nunez had possessed the number during Suarez’s leave, but in a poignant show of respect, it has now been given back to its original owner.

The two had a moment together during a picture where they displayed their individual numbers. In a humorous gesture that conveys a great deal about their friendship, Suarez obscures the ‘1’ in Nunez’s ’19’.Suarez has revealed more about his relationship with Nunez, a partnership that will probably benefit Liverpool and allow Nunez to get back on track at Anfield. “He [Nunez], with the humility that he has, a very good kid, said ‘no, Luis, you’re the No. 9, I’m going to respect you when you’re not there if I’m going to grab it,'” Suarez revealed, amidst highs and lows following his headline-making transfer from Benfica, which saw him temporarily edit out Liverpool from his online presence.

“Those are details that demonstrate the greatness and humility of a player who is going to be one of the best, if not [already] one of the best in the world today.”

Nunez is a striker for Liverpool and a fellow Uruguayan. Luis Suarez has expressed his conviction that Nunez will be a successful member of the national squad. He has, however, also tactfully reminded everyone that he isn’t quite ready to hang up his international boots.

Suarez went on: “I came to compete for the job because I want that; to play, win, and achieve the goal, aside from wanting to help. Darwin asks me questions when he comes. Although Edi [Cavani] and I were the starters when he made his debut, he consistently showed up, asked questions, and showed a remarkable desire to learn new things.”Suarez couldn’t contain his admiration as he observed Nunez’s development: “Having him in front of me, seeing how he trains, how he plays each game, how can I not stop to applause and celebrate? Indeed, it is evident that I had a great time and still do.”

Suarez has supported Nunez off the field as well. Suarez imparted some hard-won insight during a prior incident in which Nunez was sent off for headbutting Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen.

“Off the field, we have a very good bond, I always follow him because Luis is an idol for me and he also advises me a lot,” Nunez said, recalling the events following his red card. For instance, Luis was the first to write to me following the headbutt incident [against Crystal Palace].

Suаrez ԀiԀn’t hоlԀ bаck when he spоke tо me, telling me, ‘Yоu stupiԀ, Ԁоn’t Ԁо thаt, аnоther iԀiоt is tаlking tо yоu аnԀ he’s Ԁоne it а thоusаnԀ times. We struck up а greаt frienԀship with Luis.”