Stevie Nicol has slammed claims that Darwin Nunez is ‘already a bust’ at Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool given how the big-money signing performed in the PL last season.
Also, the Uruguayan is the second most expensive arrival at Anfield behind Van Dijk. The forward was massively hyped for his first campaign and also drew comparisons with Man City’s Haaland.
However, the Liverpool striker didn’t live up to the expectations and wasn’t even close to Haaland’s incredible first season.
The fans, however, are being patient with the new Liverpool number 9 and see him as a ‘future prospect’.
Whilst the former Borussia Dortmund man went on a goal-crazy Treble-winning run with Man City, while there were more mixed results for Nunez at Liverpool.
‘This guy is going to start now’ Nicol on Nunez at Liverpool
But Nicol made it clear that he has ‘never been given a chance’ by critics, as he told ESPN. Moreover, during the course of the campaign, the 24-year-old scored 9 goals and supplied 3 assists from 29 PL games. This also includes the four goals in eight Champions League games.
It saw those outside of Anfield question his qualities, as well as some Liverpool supporters raise doubts about whether he can cut it in the Premier League.
But Nicol was pretty quick to defend Nunez and how he has been brought in for the ‘future’. He has ‘shown potential’, but critics don’t allow him to develop because they are giving him ‘no chance’.
Nunez a future prospect
“You can look at it two ways. For £80 million, you want the finished article. But, at the same time, have a look around the Premier League and the money people are spending on players that maybe don’t even have that potential.
The guy has had one season. Straight away, right off the bat, you just said ‘is he a bust already?’ This guy has never been given a chance by anybody, including you (speaking to the ESPN presenter).
Hold on a second, let’s get this right. When he was signed, did anybody at Liverpool tell us that ‘this guy is the present? This guy is going to start now’.
Are you going to let me finish. The transfer fee doesn’t always tell you that. The guy was brought in as the future, yet after four months, everybody was on his back. Four months! And they were told that the guy is the future.
He has had one season. Could it have been better? Probably. He certainly showed potential. He certainly shows what he is capable of and he has more in his locker. Yet, we haven’t kicked the season off and you are asking me if he is a bust?! I mean, come on?! Seriously, he has no chance! Unless he scores a hat-trick every game, then in your eyes he is a bust already!”
I’m a football enthusiast and an avid writer and someone who lives by the Bill Shankly quote, on a day to day basis.
