Luis Suarez bids farewell to Arsenal-bound Denis Suarez

Luis Suarez bid his Barcelona team-mate Denis Suarez an emotional farewell ahead of the midfielder's loan move to Arsenal.

The London-bound Spaniard said his goodbyes in the Barcelona dressing room on Tuesday with the switch on the verge of completion.

Uruguayan striker Suarez posted a good luck message on his Instagram stories writing 'Good luck little Galician in this new challenge' alongside a picture of the pair embracing.

Suarez, 25, is set to be reunited with Unai Emery, his former manager at Sevilla, after a loan fee of £1.8million was agreed with a £20m option to make permanent the move in the summer.

He missed Barcelona's training session on Tuesday and was left out of the squad for Wednesday's Copa del Rey quarter-final, second leg against Sevilla.

With the January transfer window closing on Thursday night, the loan is expected to be concluded quickly.

Barcelona had wanted to cash in on Suarez this month with a £17m deal to Sevilla or Real Betis because his contract expires in 18 months' time, but Suarez refused to join those clubs.

The former Manchester City player wanted to return to English football and that wish is moving closer to reality.

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde admitted on Tuesday: 'Denis Suarez is on the verge of joining Arsenal. There is not much left to make it official.'

Arsenal Manager Unai Emery welcomed the signing after the Gunners' win over Cardiff on Tuesday.

He said after the game: 'If a player can come here to help us, he will come. My focus has been on the match and I haven't spoken to anyone.

'We need wingers. Suarez, who I know, he has these qualities.'

Asked if Suarez could cope with the physicality of the Premier League, Emery added: 'I don't know now. It's a challenge for him and also to help us.'