The 33-year old Uruguayan international, has been told that he is surplus to requirements at the Nou Camp under new manager Ronald Koeman, and was being lined-up for a potential move to Italy by Juventus.
As a part of that move, and in order to circumvent EU immigration controls, it was decided that Surez should try and apply for Italian citizenship and the passport that went with it. That would enable him to take up an EU place in the Juventus squad, as they already had their full quota of players from outside the Union.
As part of that process, Surez was required to sit a citizenship exam in the Italian language in order to obtain the necessary paperwork for his application to proceed.
Surez duly passed the exam, but now the Prosecutors Office in Perugia and the financial police have launched an investigation after allegations emerged that the striker knew the questions in advance, and that his score had already been assigned before he even sat the exam. It has also been claimed that Surez demonstrated only a rudimentary knowledge and grasp of the Italian language during the exam.
The financial police have removed a number of documents from the University of Perugia, where the exam was administered, and several public officials are being questioned as to whether they breached their fiduciary responsibilities and disclosed office secrets.
Ironically, Juventus have since cooled their interest in Surez, and he is now being linked with a move within Spain to Atletico Madrid.
In turn, their striker Alvaro Morata looks like he could be set to move to Juventus as part of the transfer merry go-round.
Fortunately for them, Morata is a Spanish national and, therefore, an EU citizen, and he will not be required to pass any exams before joining his new club.