Comparing Luis Suarez's Role for Barcelona vs. Role for Uruguay

Luis Suarez has finally settled in to life in Barcelona.

After a slow start to his Blaugrana career, the Uruguayan is really coming into his own with eight goals in his last nine games, per WhoScored.com.

His movement, too—while never bad, per se—has improved to the point where all three of Barca's front men know each other's roles inside out, and we are now witnessing a more fluid and incisive front line as a result.

The modification of his role at club level has no doubt contributed to the time it has taken Suarez to really feel comfortable alongside Messrs Neymar and Lionel Messi.

He admitted as much in an interview with Kicker (via Matt Morlidge of the Daily Mail):

"

Against Barcelona, most of the teams sit deep.

That was something I had to get used to, even though I am used to the physical battle as a striker.

But there's little space for my game here. It's more difficult than at Liverpool. Barca's style was a whole new world for me.

My instincts as a striker were fine from the start but I did not know how to act on the pitch. At first, I did not want to be seen as a selfish player, so I thought: 'What will the other guys say to me?'

So I ended up passing the ball instead of shooting. Over the course of time, I dared to shoot again. But I know that I must respect Barca's playing style here.

"

Used to playing on the shoulder of the last defender, Suarez has had to adapt his mix of craft, invention, flair and incessant work ethic.

Although manager Luis Enrique should be credited with trying different styles this season, the ball over the top—something that Suarez has thrived on in the past—isn't necessarily an option for a club that have always been renowned for their attractive passing game.

Suarez has been diligently working to ensure that he provides value, and the fruits of his labour are now there for all to see.

He has shown intelligence in his desire to integrate. Moreover, Barca's front three "work" precisely because Suarez has adopted a policy whereby his game is adapted to suit rather than insisting that the team always play to his strengths and his alone.

Although adept at playing the role of a No. 9, you still wouldn't describe Suarez as a target man as such.

Indeed, for the Uruguay national team, he is often the foil for Edinson Cavani, who most definitely does fit the mould of a more "old-fashioned" centre-forward.

Long balls are readily played into the powerful Paris Saint-Germain hitman for him to expertly guide into the path of an onrushing and explosive Suarez.

The World Cup match against England was a perfect example of how the two work together in the 4-4-2 formation employed by manager Oscar Tabarez. The second goal in particular was anathema to Barca's own style of play:

In essence, the roles that Suarez employs can be broadly differentiated.

Although he is required to finish at club level, he is just as much of a creator and is arguably required to work harder for the team. For Uruguay, he just needs to be a finisher.

Rupert Fryer of Goal noted Tabarez's thoughts at a recent press conference:

"

I knew that Luis would need to adapt because with Uruguay he is given greater freedom of space.

We favour a game that leaves him one-on-one with defenders and so if he loses the ball [it] does not affect the team.

It was logical, but I have seen a lot of signs that Luis is adapting very quickly. He has progressed and I think he will become a better player.

I was very happy that he joined Barcelona who will provide him their whole structure and its amazing football culture.

"

Goals are a striker's currency, and Suarez will continue to profit in this regard for both club and country.

Tabarez might even consider looking at the template Suarez features in for the Catalans to see if there is a mileage in utilising it at international level.

The evolution and development of Suarez's Barca role could well end up overlapping the one that he plays for Uruguay, especially if Cavani is injured and there is no target man for Suarez to feed off.

Having broadened his horizons domestically, there's no reason to think that he couldn't produce the same body of work internationally and be anything other than the success he has been at club level.