Liverpool fans are clamoring for a return for Darwin Nunez to Anfield this summer, but while the Andoni Iraola needs a new forward, there are far too many reasons why the Urguayan is not the answer
04:00, 10 Jun 2026
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Darwin Nunez of Uruguay during the international friendly match between England and Uruguay at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
There is a clamor from some Liverpool fans for Darwin Nunez, but he's not the answer(Image: Getty Images)
You know the old saying - never go back. I certainly never expected to be saying that about Darwin Nunez.
The transfer window isn’t even officially open yet, and already some Liverpool fans look to have gone a little stir-crazy. There’s no doubt the Reds will need some fresh faces, and the attack certainly needs addressing, but Nunez simply isn’t the answer.
It’s not even a year since he left Liverpool, and in the period since then, his career has not kicked on. Having been dropped from Al-Hilal’s squad, he hasn’t played a single club game since February, and he looks almost certain be leaving Saudi Arabia this summer.
The notion that he will leave for free after terminating his contract - which hasn’t yet been confirmed - seems to have resulted in a number of Reds fans on social media concluding that Liverpool should bring him back. I have seen plenty of people describe the idea as a “no-brainer”.
Signing a player simply because he’s available is not a good enough reason though, especially for one who has already struggled at Liverpool.
Liverpool’s poor 2025/26 season has perhaps led to some supporters overegging Nunez’s qualities. Yes, he did work hard, and he certainly has the pace that the Reds have been lacking, but the overwhelming feeling that came from his time at Anfield was one of frustration.
He was seen as a raw talent when he arrived from Benfica in an effort to explain his wayward shooting. His composure in front of goal did not improve though, and there weren’t too many complaining when he dropped down the pecking order in his final season.
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Likewise, his pressing abilities seem to have been reimagined. Yes, he did improve on that during his time on Merseyside, but it was a little too hectic even for Jurgen Klopp.
“He [Nunez] was like a racehorse. Go, go, go for everybody. We opened up and that is why we struggled slightly,” Klopp famously said after a game against Fulham.
And Nunez far too often let his emotions get in the way of him improving as a player. There’s perhaps no better example of that than when he missed a glorious opportunity at Aston Villa, and proceeded to let his head drop, shirking his other responsibilities in the process.
"I can accept the miss, but what is harder to accept is his behavior after that chance,” Arne Slot said afterwards. “It got too much in his head where he wasn't the usual Darwin that worked his a-- off and helped the team, he was too disappointed.”
Darwin Nunez
Nunez let his emotions get in the way far too often at Liverpool(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
It’s precisely for those reasons why, even if he is available for free, Liverpool should not go down that road again. Clearly, Nunez is something of a cult hero for a lot of supporters, but the club needs to be looking to improve, not treading old ground with a player who was already tried and tested, and ultimately didn’t live up to expectations.
At the same time though, the clamor for Nunez does give Andoni Iraola a good indication of what he needs this summer. Many of the qualities that the Uruguayan possesses would be welcome in this Liverpool side right now, but the Reds need a much more polished version.
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In many ways, Hugo Ekitike was that player, and that shouldn’t be forgotten, even if we don’t see much of him next season after his cruel injury.
Yes, Liverpool needs at least one new forward, and yes, it needs someone who can play up front, with no one wanting to rely on Alexander Isak staying fit for the whole season. Nunez is not the answer, but he can be the benchmark.