Darwin Nunez
Image Credits: Getty Images
Darwin Nunez has made a telling Uruguay admission that will hardly be a help to his Liverpool form.
The 2024-25 season has proven challenging for Darwin Nunez, with the Uruguayan striker managing just three goals in 19 appearances across all competitions.
His performance metrics paint a concerning picture, with an xG underperformance of 1.6 – the highest in Liverpool’s squad.
Against Girona in the Champions League, Nunez’s struggles were particularly evident. He recorded just 16 touches – the lowest among all starters – and completed only 50% of his passes.
The match followed a disappointing showing against Newcastle, where he managed just 25 touches and missed a clear scoring opportunity10
With Diogo Jota’s injury absence providing an extended run in the team, Nunez has failed to capitalize. His goal-scoring record of two Premier League goals in 11 matches this season
falls well short of expectations for Liverpool’s No.9
The situation has become more pressing as Jota nears his return to fitness.
Former Liverpool player Luis Garcia highlighted what many see as Nunez’s core issue: “We can all agree – his work ethic is exceptional – he contributes to the team by constantly pressuring the opponent, but we are lacking in that final aspect – the scoring ability.”
And now it seems that issues within the Uruguay squad could be making matters worse.e
What did Darwin Nunez say about Uruguay?
The Uruguay squad does not seem on the best terms with manager Marcelo Bielsa.
Luis Suarez previously revealed how the former Leeds manager left Nunez crying.
Suarez stated in an interview that he witnessed Nunez “crying” following Bielsa’s criticism of him during a victory over Argentina in 2023.
The game in question occurred in November, where La Celeste beat the Copa America champions 2-0 in 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
“I saw Darwin crying, and I told him: ‘You are here because of your merit, because of how hard you work, you are a goalscorer and you are the best,” Luis Suarez said.
“‘You have to continue like this, forget what others say. Wash your face, go ou,t and break it.:
Suarez then revealed how he confronted Marcelo Bielsa about the half-time team talk that made Nunez cry:
“I ran into the coach in the hallway, and he told me: ‘We are not helping him with those things’. I was taken aback, and I told him that I had to support him.”
There have been other reports and suggestions that the Uruguay squad is not exactly on the same page with Bielsa and some of his strict methods.
And now speaking to reporters after the win against Girona, Nunez was asked about the middling form of Uruguay, giving a thinly veiled reply:
“Everyone already knows why it was the slump, I’m not going to talk about it much,” he said as quoted by Patagonia outlet Diario Río Negro.
“We have a nice group and we always try to get the greatest possible advantage in the matches, it is good that we play good games and get points against the strong.”
The outlet itself arrived at the same conclusion, writing: “Darwin Núñez referred to Marcelo Bielsa and the controversial situation in the Uruguay squad.”
While Luis Suarez has since retired from the national team, it does seem like there is some animosity brewing in the Uruguay camp that will hardly help Nunez get back on track at Anfield.
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