by Tim Stannard

El Pistolero remains rancorous over manner of move to Atletico Madrid but feels the love from Leo Messi 

The last time Luis Suarez looked back at his rather hasty departure from Barcelona, the Uruguayan was certainly pointed in his displeasure of how matters played out, but polite. After all, the Barcelona president, Josep Bartomeu, was sitting next to him. 

But quite a lot has happened in the fortnight since that moment. Suarez has played three games and scored two goals for Atletico Madrid. On Thursday, Suarez bagged an opening penalty in Uruguay's 2-1 victory against Chile in a South America World Cup qualifier. 

It was after this win on native soil, that Suarez felt a little freer to look back at a frenetic fortnight and the brusque manner in which El Pistolero was told that his six years at Barcelona were up. "The way in which they told me did not go down well more than anything else," explained Suarez who admitted that, "you have to accept when your time is over."

Suarez also spoke about the very public backing he got from Lionel Messi - "there were other ways to deal with matters in the right way. These were six long years and that bothered him as well."

Coincidentally, his former Barcelona partner, Lionel Messi, was also in action for his country in World Cup qualifying clash against Ecuador. Messi scored the one and only goal in the 1-0 win from the spot. 

The Sports Burst live show with our Gabrielle Amado and Ray Hudson will look back at Thursday's action. Head to our beIN SPORTS USA Facebook page and XTRA channel at 12PM ET. 

Pogba rekindles Real Madrid dream as club eyes Camavinga

On Thursday, Paul Pogba single-handedly revived the Real Madrid transfer rumor which had been dormant for a good year or so. On duty with the French team, the Manchester United midfielder declared that "all footballers would love to play for Real Madrid. It is a dream for me. Why not one day?"

Well, that final question has been answered in the Spanish media on Friday. In theory, a move looks very doable. Pogba will only be 28 next summer but most importantly of all in these cash-strapped times, the Frenchman will be out of contract at United in the summer of 2021 and completely free. 

However, it appears in Friday's musings that Real Madrid do have plans to sign a talented, multi-faceted French midfielder next year. However, it is set to a be a player who is currently ten years younger than Pogba - Eduardo Camavinga. 

The Rennes midfielder scored on his full debut for France on Wednesday and has been one of the reasons for his club's remarkable year which sees Rennes at the top of the Ligue 1 standings and in this season's edition of the Champions League.

So this begs the question - is it better to bring in the experience of Paul Pogba for free or gamble on a talent rookie who could cost up to upwards of $50 million?

Lakers set for NBA bubble wrap

Two down, two to go. 

The first major US sport to finish of its 2019-20 business was hockey with the Tampa Bay Lightening winning the Stanley Cup.  

Friday could see another dose of bubble wrap with the NBA finishing of its season in Orlando if the LA Lakers defeat the Miami Heat to go 4-1 in the play-off final series. 

A victory would seal a couple of milestones - a fourth NBA play-off win for LeBron James with three different franchises. and a first victory for the Lakers since 2010 with Kobe Bryant in the team.