Darwin Nunez appears destined to leave Liverpool this summer, and AC Milan are strongly tempted to make an attempt.
La Gazzetta dello Sport begin a report by stating that Milan, if the deal really goes through, will hope that the Nunez operation doesn’t end up like the Divock Origi one. In the case of the Uruguayan, however, the starting point would be decidedly different.
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Origi arrived on a free transfer, Darwin would arrive on the basis of a significant transfer fee, let’s say no less than €45-50m. This is a safe assumption for the simple reason that three years ago Liverpool paid Benfica €75m in fixed fees for him, to which €25m in bonuses must be added.
In other words: the most expensive purchase in the history of the Reds at the time (Florian Wirtz will soon become the most expensive). At the time, there was even discussion about who was the best between him and Erling Haaland, who arrived in Manchester in the same summer.
Fast-forwarding to today, Nunez is a purchase that – after a promising start – did not live up to promises and expectations. Now, a departure seems a certainty, and Italy could be in his future.
Deteriorating relationships
Nunez was put up for sale, because the English champions need money for the accounts and because the former Benfica man has not proven to be up to the investment. Let’s be clear: Darwin is not at loggerheads with Liverpool, the adventure simply did not go as everyone expected.
Despite the Reds coming off a season in which they won the title, Nunez struggled to make a mark. With Arne Slot the relationship practically never took off (but also with Jurgen Klopp the relationship had deteriorated considerably), to the extent that the coach even preferred Diogo Jota to him.
In the last Premier League season, Liverpool scored 86 goals, of which only five were netted by Darwin, who made only eight starts in the league. Overall, his total appearances were 47 (seven goals), amassing 2,038 minutes. It is not enough from ‘Mister €100m’.
His previous two campaigns on Merseyside yielded 15 goals in 2,366 minutes (42 appearances) the first year and 18 in 3,026 (54 appearances) in the second. Milan, it seems, believe that he can improve on those numbers in Italy.
A desire for revenge
In short, we are talking about a player looking for redemption, a characteristic that many arrivals in at Milan in recent years have in common. Here, however, the costs of the contract are very important and therefore in-depth reflections are needed.
Certainly at Milanello the Uruguayan could find that centrality that he lost in Liverpool. Darwin in fact belongs to the (large) group of players who, in order to perform adequately, must feel at the centre of the project and perceive unconditional trust.
Or rather, what gradually slipped out of his hands, month after month, in England. To the point of being heavily targeted by Anfield, who never reproached him for anything in terms of commitment and attitude but at a certain point no longer accepted the sequence of errors in front of goal.
In terms of how he would be used on the field, Nunez is a fairly classic striker. His imposing physical structure obviously gives him clear characteristics. His hard-working attitude is evident, with great intensity in pressing and aggression.
Darwin is good at finding spaces and making runs into the area, as well as working on the sidelines. He has played mostly as a lone striker, but at times he has shared spaces with a team-mate.
Could there be a potential pairing with Santiago Gimenez? All to be verified, it would be necessary to work on it, but it is easy to imagine that it would be an emergency solution during the game, since Allegri will use a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.
Milan will soon realise their huge mistake if they sign this expensive flop! We’ve become a club of rejects 💯
#RedbirdOut
#🤡 management out
If you can’t do your job at Liverpool, with all their attacking firepower, you’re not going to do it at Milan..
Darwin would be sensation Italy, his style does not suit the Premier League. He is very similar to Osihmen but more dynamic.
The biggest problem any team will have in signing him is getting him, this article states Liverpool need the money to balance the accounts. Liverpool have spent practically nothing in the last 4 years, the most certainly do not need the money. In fact, they even told Barca to get lost when they came after Luis Diaz.
Hahaha, is this a joke? Darwin is garbage, in any top league. “More dynamic” lol. He can’t finish, he can’t carry the ball, he can’t hold it up, what does he do?
Well said brother, you see far beyond the normal. With Allergi and Milan starting to go back to their roots this player will thrive.
Naaah, move along people. Times where Milan paid over 40M€ for anyone are long gone. Nothing to see here.
When were the times when Milan paid over 40 million for players for those times to be long gone?
People live in LaLa Land.
Andre Silva was a 40mil purchase in 2017.
Andre Silva was a 38 million purchase.
He wrote his comment like Milan used to spend over 40 million on players left and right and now those times are gone. Maybe 2 players ever in history of Milan were bought for barely over 40 m. Rui Costa in ’01 and Bonucci in ’17.
exactly
This. And it wasn’t the profit-loving RedBird in charge then either. We will never pay 40M€+ for anyone during this ownership.
There is no defense, there is no midfield, but a 50 million striker is wanted 🤣🤣🤣
DNT sign him please gv Jovic another deal and go for another striker,we can still use Gimenez from wing.
Great another flawed striker.
“…must feel at the centre of the project and perceive unconditional trust.” Sound so opposite with this milan management. Furlani to trust? Ibra or Moncada?
why scout so addicted w/ PL junk?
their trash look like diamond?
or they just so dumb?
PL players is so overatted, over-price & high salary.
Puli is good but that’s maybe 1in5, do u forget tomo, rlc, origi, royal, walker?
Spent about 30mil on the AM couple years ago, was considered too much. That led to lose of a job.
Now we are talking about 60, 70, 100mil attacker operation? lol
Where does it come from? smh 😀
Nunez ke,what are going to do with Nunez haa this management want to turn Milan in to a dumping ground,Redbird out.
The most painful thing about Milan is not just the results, but of the transfer period. We will be linked with the world, only to sign pebbles
This is another fantasy story. Don’t get so ruffled people. These ‘journalist opinion’ stories will be coming all summer.
The management who get shivers if they have to spend more than 25mil is gonna drop 50 on a terrible striker????? Pls seek help
who’s coming up with this garbage? vlahovic is another one.
This person writing this article always say rubbish things, any concrete info is always in the news, it was in the news that Napoli are strongly linked with Darwin Nunez,I dnt know where dis Ac milan writer got his own.