EUROPA LEAGUE
Darwin
Nunez
BENFICASix months after signing the Uruguay
striker for a club record€25m, Benfica
already seem sure that Nunez will not
dwell long at the Estadio da Luz. Mindful
of rumours that big-hitters such as Real
Madrid, Barcelona and Internazionale
have their sights on the 21-year-old,
Benfica coachJorgeJesus made a
telling admission in autumn: “While he
[Nunez] has much still to learn, I have
no doubts that he will become a top
player. Unhappily for me, we’ll lose him
in short order.”
Nunez, who learnt his trade at top
Montevideo club Penarol – making his
debut at the age of18 in 2017 – has
been in Europe less than two years. Last
season, he was a thrilling new face for
Spanish second-tier side Almeria,
scoring16 goals as the Andalusians
came a creditable fourth, eventually
losing to Girona in the play-offs. Suitably
impressed, the Benfica management
felt there was no time to waste, quickly
opening negotiations with Almeria anddigging deep into their pockets to
finance the deal.
“He’s a youngster we believe in, and
across Europe there are many others
who think the same as us,” said Benfica
director of sport Rui Costa on Nunez’s
unveiling. “We know the media will focus
more on his price-tag than his qualities
as a player, but in our opinion he will be
one of the best attackers around over
the next decade.”
Nunez, who netted a fine hat-trick
against Lech Poznan in his first Europa
League game for Benfica, boasts an
excellent all-round game: fleet of foot,
highly technical and intelligent in his
movement, especially adept at running
into space in the channels. He is strong
in the air, is a cool finisher and can let
fly with venom from long distance.
The youngster has four Uruguay caps
after making his debut in a friendly
against Peru in October 2019. With
iconic strikers Edinson Cavani and Luis
Suarez well into their 30s, Nunez is
ready to be passed the baton.
Indeed, Cavani was strongly rumoured
to be a Benfica target last summer, but
eventually they plumped for his younger
international colleague Nunez. The right
decision in the long run.“I have no doubts that he will
become a top player. Unhappily for
me, we’ll lose him in short order”
Benfica coach Jorge Jesus