Diego Forlan has hit out at Barcelona and the Spanish media for their 'wrong' treatment of Luis Suarez during his final days at the club.
The 34-year-old completed a £5.5million move to current LaLiga leaders Atletico Madrid in the summer after being forced out of the club following six successful years at Camp Nou.
The Uruguay striker scored 21 goals across all competitions last season, but was one of several members of the Barcelona squad to come under fire after conceding the league title to Real Madrid and being humiliated 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The club therefore endured a trophyless season, but speaking to Australian media, his former international team-mate Forlan disagreed with the 'hate' and 'criticism' directed towards him, insisting he was 'the perfect target' due to his feisty character.
'I think the media was targeting him in the wrong way, because I didn't agree in that moment that he was playing badly,' Forlan - speaking at a LaLiga event - said.
'There were comments about his physique but that has never changed. In his final days at Barcelona the club needed someone to hate and criticise. He was the perfect target because he argues and fights with the other teams.
'Many don't like him including the fans. Some journalists don't like that side to him. He scored many goals last season.
'Of course, when he was the top scorer, he scored upwards of 30 and people expect that every season. He still did his job and played well in the Champions League.
'When they didn't win everything, someone had to take the blame. [Lionel] Messi is not going to be that person.'
Suarez scored more than 30 goals in half of his seasons at Barcelona, including in 2015-16 when he bagged an incredible 40 LaLiga goals to win the Pichichi award.
The former Liverpool forward is on course to challenge for this year's prize too, currently leading the race with 16, one in front of former team-mate and close friend Messi.
And ex-Manchester United forward Forlan, 41, said he expected Suarez to continue thriving at his new club under Diego Simeone, while insisting his decision to leave Barcelona was not down to footballing reasons.
'I am not surprised at the success he is having because he was showing great form for Barcelona at the end of last season,' Forlan added.
'His decision to leave Barcelona was not a footballing one. It was other things and that's a pity.
'He's a player who could play for any club and do well, as we are seeing with Atlético Madrid. I'm really happy for him and it's great to see him scoring so many.'
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