Barça and Suarez sit down to negotiate improved deal

Luis Suarez has spoken on the pitch over the last two seasons. 

FC Barcelona went all in on his signing, paying 81 million euros at a delicate time, folowing his departure from the 2014 World Cup, and the Uruguayan has more than repaid them with his performances.

In his second season, the only complete one without any suspensions, he scored 59 goals in 53 official matches. The statistics of a footballer who is on the world's podium, but his contract does not reflect this status.

The forward has not had to request anything. Barça themselves have realised that his output deserves a better salary, and to equate him onto the same wage level as the rest of the Barcelona front three.

Therefore, Barça have moved into action, and have already held two meetings with the player's agent, Pere Guardiola, to fix the limits of the negotiation.

They have been primary contacts, without the formality required to delve into the details of a contract of this magnitude, but which have served as a starting point to lay the foundations of an upcoming agreement.

Luis Suarez has maintained his silence on the issue, and does not want his renewal to become a media circus. His agent has handled the initial steps with great precaution.

The conversations between the parties will continue in the coming days, and the good disposition of each side would suggest that the renewal should proceed smoothly without serious problems.

Barça are conscious that they should situate Luis Suarez on the same wage scale as Neymar. 

Within the club, this is accepted by all parties (directors, technical staff and the rest of the dressing room), that Leo Messi should be the highest earner, but after him there should be no difference between the other two members of the 'trident', Neymar and Luis Suarez.

At the current time, with his renewal agreed, the Brazilian has a much higher wage than Suarez, who would fall into the third tier of earners, alongside Iniesta, Busquets and Pique.

The intention is for the Uruguayan frontman to reach the figures in Neymar's deal, and join the second tier in the scale.

Luis Suarez will turn 30 in January and could therefore have a shorter future in the game than the Brazilian, but his efficiency has saved Barça numerous times and last season he performed better than the ex-Santos man.

Suarez is under contract until 2019 and the negotiations are more geared towards an improved wage rather than an extension of his deal, though Barça may consider adding a year to the contract to get extra production from their investment.

The player is very strong physically. Last season he coped well with the strain of a long season, and he has taken care of his body to maximise his career. His only injury of note arrived in the last game of the season, the Copa del Rey final, when he had to be substituted.

He damaged his hamstring and this caused him to miss his country's short participation in the Copa America, though he was part of the squad and would have taken part had the team reached the latter stages.

Suarez joined up with the Barcelona squad on Tuesday to undergo the routine medical checks to begin pre-season, and these confirmed that the player is fully recovered from the injury.

He will be able to run and train as normal to recharge his batteries for the new season. He has been the first of the 'trident' to appear, and wants to be the team's spearhead to again aim for all the titles in play.