Darwin Núñez poses with Barcelona ace amid transfer speculation after Liverpool social media purge
Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez is having a difficult end to the season as the Jürgen Klopp era comes to a close. Núñez has been among the substitutes for his side’s last two matches, having scored just once in the Premier League in two months.
That was a fortunate effort in the win over Sheffield United, with the Uruguayan’s finishing leaving a lot to be desired. His last start came in the Merseyside derby defeat to Everton, when he fired a shot straight at Jordan Pickford from close range.
Núñez has been unfairly targeted on social media in recent weeks and responded by deleting all but one of his Liverpool-related posts on social media. He also blocked a number of Reds fan accounts on social media.
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The 24-year-old was backed by countryman and ex-Liverpool striker Luis Suárez, after Núñez broke his self-imposed social media silence to congratulate him on netting his 500th club goal.
And now Barcelona and Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo has also reached out, posting a picture alongside the Reds striker. He shared the image on his Instagram page alongside the caption ‘Mi hermano’, translating to ‘my brother’. Núñez then shared the post on his own Instagram story, amid reports he is on Barca’s radar this summer.
Earlier this week, SPORT claimed that Núñez could be targeted to replace Robert Lewandowski this summer. It is unclear if the La Liga giants would be able to afford him though, given its well-known financial issues.
Suárez actually revealed back in 2021 he had urged Barca side to sign Núñez, only to see him join Benfica. “When he was at Almeria, I said it at Barca,” Suárez said on a Twitch stream with Gerard Romero (via SportBible).
“They asked me and I said ‘look after this guy, he’s very interesting’, but they said no, he’s at Almeria, he’s very young. But instead of paying now 80, 90, or 100 million, they would have paid 15 or 20.”
It had been a decent first half of the season for the Liverpool man, who has still found the net 18 times and provided a further 13 assists. But after the defeat to Everton, ex-Reds defender Jamie Carragher suggested Klopp’s replacement could eye a more prolific marksman.
He said on Sky Sports: “After two years, when Liverpool is going for the title or in big games, you need your man to score at Old Trafford or at Goodison Park. This is the business end. He’s ground to a halt.
“After two years there’s going to be no improvement in him. This is what he is. He can cause trouble but he’s erratic with his finishing – it’s not enough to win you trophies so there’s a big decision to be made on him.”
Liverpool.com says: The post from Araujo may simply have been one of support for an international teammate but it comes at a time when there is speculation over Núñez’s future. The Reds striker has struggled in recent months but has shown at times this season how dangerous he can be. If he is to seek a move, any club will have to pay big and likely match the record fee Liverpool coughed up in 2022, and that would surely rule Barca out.
