The final dots and commas have yet to be put in, but it looks like Darwin Nuñez will be Liverpool’s new number 9. Peter Vandenbempt has already seen the Uruguayan attacker perform live in the Champions League several times and is full of praise. “Nuñez in the hands of Jürgen Klopp: I want to see that”, it sounds enthusiastic.
Two years ago, Benfica paid 24 million euros – a club record – for Darwin Nuñez, who had then completed a year in the Spanish second division at Almeria. Now it is Liverpool who in turn pay a record amount for Nuñez, who will become the most expensive transfer in club history with a price tag of around 80-100 million.
“I don’t know if he’s worth 100 million euros. That’s what they’re willing to give. And I don’t know if he will succeed 100 percent for sure, but with his profile everything is there to succeed at Jürgen’s Liverpool Klopp,” said Sporza football commentator Peter Vandenbempt.
So what is that, Nuñez’s profile? “He is a typical striker in the Uruguayan tradition, like Cavani or Suarez. Nuñez is very energetic and agile. He may not look very fast, but he can sprint quickly and also has an acceleration in the action. He is more powerful than Cavani and Suarez.”
At Bayern, where as a commentator you sit close to the field, I could see him up close and he is really an incredibly imposing person.
“I’ve seen him play about ten times and I think he is an incredibly impressive striker. He made a big impression on me. At Bayern, where you sit close to the field as a commentator, I could see him up close and is really an incredibly imposing person. With his 1.87 meters he is a real beast despite his young age.”
“His football is also like that: he has a strong header and he also has a great bang in his feet. He is also a working striker, not one waiting in the box. He participates in the game and also moves to the corners to kick crosses.”
“A shortcoming: he often misses the overview, although that can also be a bit selfish. He will often try to cut down and kick when there are better options. He is very focused on scoring goals.”
“He has a strong header,” says Peter Vandenbempt about Darwin Nuñez.
“His stats are phenomenal”
So goals. He has made 47 for Benfica, in 84 matches. He has scored 34 goals in 41 matches this season, including 6 goals in the Champions League. “Twice against Barcelona, once against Bayern, the winning goal against Ajax in Amsterdam and also twice against Liverpool,” says Peter Vandenbempt.
“He was sometimes accused of not scoring against top clubs, but that may no longer hold. His statistics are phenomenal. Knowing Liverpool, they must have followed him very closely.”
“That price tag will put a lot of pressure on his shoulders. But with his way of playing football, his incredible work, his energy and power, he certainly fits Liverpool.”
Jürgen Klopp will be able to inspire Darwin Nuñez. I think he will go through a huge evolution.
“Darwin Nuñez in the hands of Jürgen Klopp: I want to see that. He seems to be a very inquisitive boy and Klopp will be able to inspire him. I think he will go through a huge evolution.”
“He is also a boy with the typical story: coming from a poor environment. He had to fight his way up from the gutter. Over the years he has cultivated character. He has already had some knee problems, but there was nothing this season. more to notice.”
“I expect he will be number 9 at Liverpool. He performs best as a deep striker, although he can also play in a two-striker system or from the wing. But maybe he will need some time. Look at Mane , which was also not top from the first day. Only it did not cost 100 million.”
