Darwin Núñez already ‘said yes’ to Barcelona as Liverpool transfer stance emerges
Liverpool forward Darwin Núñez has already ‘said yes’ to Barcelona once before – and could get the chance to do the same again, according to reports from Spain. The Uruguayan has been the subject of transfer speculation this week after Liverpool-related content was deleted from his social media profile.
Núñez, 24, came off the bench in the 75th minute during the recent 4-2 win for Liverpool against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. The Liverpool star was unable to make a meaningful contribution in the game, making it eight games without a goal for the former Benfica man.
Shortly after the final whistle, Núñez’s personal Instagram removed all but one photo of him in a Liverpool shirt, sparking speculation about his future at the club. He was already the subject of transfer links to La Liga giants Barcelona in recent weeks, with the public hint only fuelling the rumors.
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According to SPORT, Núñez is attracting interest from Xavi Hernandez’s side as the Barcelona boss looks to replace Robert Lewandowski this summer. The 35-year-old is one of the top earners at the club and is now approaching the twilight years of his career.
The Catalan outlet adds that it isn’t the first time Barcelona has shown an interest in the player, with Núñez already saying ‘yes’ to the Catalan club back in 2020 while he was still at UD Almería. Benfica went on to secure the services of the player and he would go on to make the move to Anfield in 2022, in a deal worth around $91million (€85m/£73m).
Núñez was reportedly ‘delighted’ at the prospect of wearing the Barcelona shirt following his tie at Almería and would now ‘prioritise’ a return to Spain. However, former Everton boss Ronaldo Koeman, who was the manager of Barcelona at the time of the initial interest, was not sold on signing the forward. This then opened the door for Benfica – and the rest is history.
Now, however, he could get a second chance and it’s claimed he would prioritize a switch to Barcelona if he does end up leaving Liverpool. While it is far from at this stage, Núñez already knows about the Nou Camp club after being close to a move there once before.
Liverpool.com says: Despite his recent struggles, Núñez has shown flashes of what he is capable of producing in a Liverpool shirt. The club invested heavily in him and he is exactly that – an investment. Not every player will hit the ground running like Erling Haaland.
Look at Mohamed Salah’s first stint in the Premier League with Chelsea! Give him time and he could become the lethal striker every Liverpool fan wants him to be. Especially as the club enters a new era under Arne Slot.
