Former Atletico Madrid star Diego Forlan says FC Barcelona are struggling without Luis Suarez the same way Real Madrid struggled after Cristiano Ronaldo left.
Suarez was deemed surplus to requirement at the end of last season and went on to join LaLiga title rivals Atletico Madrid on a free transfer.
The Uruguayan's arrival at in Madrid has been superb as Diego Simeone's charges sit top of the league, five points ahead of the Catalan giants heading into the Madrid derby this weekend.
"Barcelona are missing Luis, it's like when Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid," Forlan told AFP.
"It was not just Cristiano Ronaldo leaving, one of the best players in the history of football. It is 50 goals leaving as well.
"So if you sell a player like Ronaldo or Suarez, you have to replace them with two players and then there's risk because they have to adapt.
"As soon as Cristiano left it was never going to be easy for Real Madrid and for Barcelona now it's the same."
