Flashback to July 2014, the Brazilian World Cup was in full flow but Luis Suárez's tournament was over. The Uruguayan had bit Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini, the third player to be on the end of Suárez's teeth, and was bracing for a hefty ban from FIFA. If you drew a scale of player's popularity at that moment, you would've been hard pressed to find a player below Suárez. The Liverpool player was being condemned from the world media and there were calls for him to never kick a ball again. Which is why it was puzzling for Barcelona to be interested in him.

Barça pride themselves on being Més que un club and are often seen as the gleaming example of what a football club should be. So for them to be linked with a player such as Suárez made some question whether that motto was still true. There was no doubting the player's ability but there were serious concerns over wherever he had the attitude that befits a Barça player. As well his attitude there was debate about his playing style and whether it would fit with the passing, attacking game that is bred into the Barça team. This was a 5ft10, 180 lbs centre forward, not exactly the blueprint for a Barça player.

During the Messi era, Barça have seldom had a player you'd class as a number 9. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the closest you will get but he is known for his public spat with Pep Guardiola more than his actual playing time at Barça and while the team have had great strikers such as David Villa, they have often been shifted to the wings to accommodate Lionel Messi.

However in 2014, the team was declining. They had become lethargic and predictable with opponents knowing that if you defended deep and were organised, Barcelona would struggle to pierce your defence. The rest of the footballing world had caught up to them and they had lost that physicality needed to break through a well organised team. They finished the 2013-14 season without a single major trophy, a first since 2008 and Gerardo Martino departed, making way for Luis Enrique.

Enrique's arrival signalled a modification of style. The Barça core remained the same but they were willing to get rough if needed. The likes of Cesc Fàbregas and Alexis Sánchez departed to make way for Ivan Rakitić and Luis Suárez.

"He is a different style of player for us. We have Andres Iniesta and Xavi and they are sweet players and you can enjoy watching them on the ball, it's easy on the eye. Not with Suarez. He fights and scraps for the ball and finally gets the goal. - Gerard Piqué

The 2014-15 season started and it wasn't plain sailing for Enrique. The team were picking up occasional defeats and struggling to get a consistent run going while rivals Real Madrid were building up momentum. Suárez though was preparing for his debut. As luck would have it, the ban ended the day before the first Clásico of the season, an away trip to the Santiago Bernabéu. Enrique elected to start the Uruguayan, repositioning Messi to the right wing but the game ended in disaster. Despite taking the lead through a fourth minute Neymar goal, assisted by Suárez, the Catalans crumbled to a 3-1 defeat that drew Madrid just one point behind Barça.

Questions were raised over the positioning of Messi and whether both Suárez and the Barça number 10 wanted to operate in the same space. Despite not enduring the dream debut, there was already evidence of the difference offered by Suárez. The position of Messi made sense as Suárez became the focal point of the attack through the centre. Occupying the two centre backs which allowed more space and freedom for Neymar and Lionel Messi. But these things aren't always easy to spot and when he went through his first five games at the club without a goal, some critics were already on his back.

For such a big money move, it's easy to look past some of the extraneous circumstances. This was a player who hadn't played a match in months and was asked to play in a team that demands a consistent high work rate. On top of that, he had to adapt to a system different to the one he played at Liverpool. On Merseyside, Suárez was the tip of Liverpool's speared attack. Every player would look for him to finish chances while Enrique was asking for more. To create goals as well as score them. It was in this department that he excelled.

Suárez registered six assists in ten games at the start of his Barça career and he was starting to show that he wasn't just a number 9. The goals eventually did come as he finished the season with 25 goals to go with his 21 assists. He helped Barcelona to the treble, scoring what would be the winning goal in the Champions League final and he has continued into the season in the same form.

The Barça number 9 is now rightfully recognised as part of the best front three in football history and it's easy to see now why Barcelona desperately wanted him.

The key thing about Suárez is the mix of physicality with technical brilliance. Perhaps the best example of this came last weekend against Atlético Madrid. His goal showcases his eye for a run, the use of his body and his expert finishing. Dani Alves spots that Suárez has run into the space between centre back and left back. After receiving the ball, Suárez puts his back towards the defender and holds him off despite the lunge. A number of players would've gone down here, especially considering the tight angle which he was now at. But instead Suárez not only blocks off the defender but steadies himself for the shot. Finally, after a brief look up, he fires it hard and low through the keeper's legs.

This isn't a one off either. A quick glance on YouTube and you will see goal after goal in this mould. Make a great run, hold off the defender, finish precisely. Suárez is arguably the best striker in the world in terms of using his body. The physical work that he puts in allows both himself and others chances to score goals.

Neymar and Messi's games are both prettier. Tricks and flicks to go with the goalscoring brilliance but the work of Suárez is just as important for this Barça team. During Guardiola's reign, Barça would pass you to death. Moving the ball around quickly, waiting for you to show a weakness in your armour and then punishing it. Now, they have another form of attack. The team can still play the passing game but through Suárez they can be more direct and get at teams quicker.

This goes back to the problem Martino had. Defences would sit deep and allow you to pass the ball but not near enough to cause any real damage. The introduction of Suárez is the introduction of an out ball. A 40 yard over the top pass that he will take down and more than likely score.

As we go into the latter stages of the season, it seems retaining the treble has become a very real possibility and Suárez remains integral to that. If he continues in the same form, it is hard to not see him on the podium with Neymar and Messi when the 2016 Ballon d'Or rolls around.