On-loan striker Luis Suarez is set to become a Spanish citizen next month and could earn a route to the Watford squad if he continues scoring for Real Zaragoza. Suarez joined Watford back in 2017 from Colombian side Leones, via a loan stint at Granada B, but was not an immediate prospect for first-team action at Vicarage Road.
The club saw potential and, because the Colombian was not a full international, they sent him out on loan to develop, while hopefully going on to fulfil the criteria to earn a UK work permit.
He spent time on loan in Spain with Segunda B outfit Real Valladolid B in 2017-18, where he scored 11 goals in 34 appearances.
He then stepped up a level to the Segunda with Gimnastic de Tarragona last season and finished the campaign with seven goals in 36 games.
Despite the club’s relegation, Suarez impressed scouts of ambitious Segunda club Zaragoza, who made him their first signing of the summer back in June on a season-long loan deal.
He has started out for them with a bang, scoring four goals in his first six matches and sparking talk that he could finish the season with the ‘Pichichi’ award for the division’s top scorer.
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And the media have also begun to wonder how much it would take for Zaragoza to sign him permanently.
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Suarez told Marca: “I have this year and two more [under contract with Watford]. I don’t know my [release] clause exactly because they usually vary depending on the contract and whether or not I renew. Right now, it is not very high – I would say a million [euros] or so, but I’m not sure. That is something that should be handled between the two clubs, in case they reach an agreement.”
Hornets fans could yet see him in the team’s colours as Suarez is set to swear allegiance to the King and obedience to the Spanish constitution and laws to complete his nationalisation process next month.
That means he will effectively no longer need a work permit as he becomes an EU citizen although his new passport might come too late to facilitate a switch to England, with Brexit just around the corner.
