The legend without a plaque of Luis Suárez (and many others) at Atlético: "The 100 games was the most reasonable method, but not the fairest"

• Classification This is the First Division

Last Sunday, a couple of hours before the derby started, a father walked with his son along the Paseo de las Leyendas, savoring that collection of plates headed by

(553 games).

"Look, dad, here's Simeone's!" Announced the little boy excitedly.

"And here, Joao Félix's!" He continued.

"Dad, where will they put Luis Suarez's?"

The answer was left in the air, more than anything to avoid a hot flash to the kid.

Because Luis will leave with the memory of that eternal dart in

, or of that almost equally indelible one, a week before, against Osasuna.

Or of the other 19 that served to crown Atlético.

This season, with much fewer minutes, he is the top scorer: 13 goals.

But he will not reach those 100 games that are an essential requirement to have a plaque on that Paseo de las Leyendas del Metropolitano.

At most he will reach 83.

Hence, a good part of the rojiblanca fans have mobilized, through social networks, to claim that recognition for the Uruguayan striker.

They have done so under the hashtag #UnaPlacaParaSuárez.

They've been asking for it for weeks.

Even the charrúa thanked the gesture publicly.

The top of the 100 games was the formula chosen by Atlético, before the inauguration of the Metropolitano, to determine who would be part of that Walk, which will be joined by

, who celebrated his centenary last Wednesday against Elche.

With him there will be 180 tenants in total.

The decision was made between various levels of the club and the red and white legends.

"It was the fairest thing", they defend from the entity, where they insist that all the great footballers have their mark on the stadium.

Mainly, in that museum of 1,400 square meters that is

.

"For us, all our teammates are the same, whether they have played one or whatever games they are. We understand the club and we understand the fans,"

, president of the Association of Legends of Atlético, with 279 games as a rojiblanco behind him.

"Because of values ​​and charisma, there are those who deserve it"

But Luis is not the only one who will be missed on that sidewalk full of history.

The same happens with

(91 games),

(93),

(86),

(81),

(88) or, among others,

'

'

(70).

There are some more.

"We believe that the method of 100 matches should be changed because there are figures who are being left out. There are footballers who, due to values ​​and charisma, deserve it. Luis, for example. The club already knows our position of including those players who are missing", they explain to this newspaper from the International Union of Atlético Supporters Clubs.

"When establishing the norm, it is logical that the key is 100 games. However, it should be a bit elastic for people who have been important in the history of the club. Suárez was key to winning a League and has been vital from the bench, assuming his role as substitute without question. They will not have a plate for forwards who have been decisive in titles like Luis or Falcao, "says

, president of the Peña Los 50. "It is clear who have deserved it without reaching the figure and who have it without winking at the club. Although I wouldn't remove any plaque", he adds, referring, to give a couple of examples, to Hugo Sánchez or Courtois.

The memory of the 'Pechuga' San Román

José Antonio Martín Otín, 'Petón'

, well-known 'rojiblanco' fan and author of books on athletics such as '

' or '

', provides some clues.

"A committee of experts is urgently needed or one that attributes this function to the Senate or to people concerned about the history of Atlético. It is about transferring to the Metropolitano soil what some footballers earned on the pitch without reaching those 100 games," he argues, before emphasizing the name of Miguel San Román.

"He was an absolute legend, not only because of the 11 years he spent at the club, but because of his understanding of the soul of Atlético. Until the end of his days, he continued his red-and-white personality. It's outrageous that he's not here," he insists. .

And he adds an interesting hypothesis: "Imagine that someone scored the goal that gave Atlético a Champions League and was not there for not reaching 100 games. Reaching that figure was the most reasonable method, but not the fairest," he concludes.

And all this debate, because Luis Suárez, huge in his first season and exemplary in this second episode, where he assumed the substitution without fanfare, says goodbye this Sunday, against Sevilla, with Atlético already qualified for the Champions League, of a hobby that could not enjoy his best version from the stands.

once remarked

.

The Uruguayan has applied that famous phrase to his career until the end.

That's why, even if he doesn't have a badge, he will always be a legend for the red and white fans.

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