Luis Suarez will not play in Uruguay's friendly against Chile on Tuesday after la Celeste coach Oscar Tabarez agreed to release the Barcelona striker from his national team camp.
The Barcelona striker, who scored in Uruguay's 3-3 draw against Costa Rica on Thursday during, agreed with coach Tabarez to miss the friendly against Jorge Sampaoli's side in Santiago.
"We all know what Luis means to us, but we also know that we won't have him for the Copa America, so it's good to look at alternatives for playing without him," said Uruguay captain Diego Godin.
After Thursday's match, Tabarez hinted that Suarez would sit out the Chile encounter.
"I have many ideas about how to substitute him," Tabarez told Marca. "Luis has come along to have contact with the national team because he will rejoin us once he serves his ban, but he will not start against Chile."
Suarez was suspended for nine official international matches following his bite on Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.
The sanction means he will miss the Copa America, which will be held in Chile rom June 11-July 4 next year.