MIAMI — Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos stated that Luis Suárez is irreplaceable as the team prepares to compete in the Leagues Cup without him due to a lengthy suspension.
Suárez has received a six-game suspension for spitting at a Seattle Sounders staff member after Inter Miami’s 3-0 loss in last August’s tournament final, which means he will miss the entire 2026 event.
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“Luis is irreplaceable,” Hoyos told reporters on Tuesday. “He is one of those players who truly makes a difference.”
The 39-year-old’s suspension comes at a particularly tough time for both him and the club, as Suárez has been in exceptional form, scoring seven goals in the last four games while stepping up for Inter Miami during the absences of Lionel Messi and Germán Berterame.
In last Saturday’s 2-2 draw against the Columbus Crew, Suárez contributed with a goal and an assist, a match in which Messi made his first appearance since the World Cup as a late substitute.
“It’s unfortunate because Luis is playing at a very high level,” Hoyos remarked regarding Suárez’s suspension after the draw. “He’s a huge asset for us, contributing not just with goals, but also assists and overall play. Like all great players, he will be sorely missed. We have to find a way to compete in his absence.”
A brawl occurred between Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders after the final whistle of last year’s championship match, which saw Suárez needing to be restrained by teammates and coaches prior to spitting on an opposing staff member.
Former Miami player Sergio Busquets was seen throwing a punch at former Seattle midfielder Obed Vargas, while then-Miami defender Tomás Avilés received disciplinary action for his aggressive conduct.
While Busquets was handed a two-game suspension and Avilés a three-game ban, both players are no longer with Inter Miami; Busquets has retired, and Avilés is currently out on loan with Chilean club O’Higgins FC.
Inter Miami is set to begin their Leagues Cup campaign against Atlético de San Luis on Wednesday night at Nu Stadium, followed by matches against Monterrey and León in the group stage.