Three years ago, Darwin Núñez was arguably the most coveted center-forward in Europe. He was polishing off a huge season at Benfica, during which he scored 26 goals in the Portuguese league and 34 across all competitions. The 6’2’’ Uruguayan, a fast and athletic pressing machine, had interest from several major clubs, including Atlético Madrid; he eventually moved to Liverpool FC, and the Reds paid a club-record €75 million to land him in June 2022.
As we reach the business end of the 2024/25 season, Núñez’s stint at Anfield might be coming to an end. First-year manager Arne Slot hasn’t been enamored with Núñez; the 25-year-old has started only eight times for the Premier League’s runaway leaders, and he hasn’t been able to shake his reputation as a striker who spurns big chances, especially in big games. Most recently, Núñez missed a penalty during Liverpool’s shootout loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League round of 16.
With Slot and Liverpool eyeing a forward like Alexander Isak or Brighton’s João Pedro to lead the line in 2025/26, Núñez could become available at a discounted rate. And that would put Atlético in position to afford him at last, nearly five years after Núñez left Almería for Benfica.
El Atlético de Madrid se interesa por la situación de Darwin Núñez.
El Liverpool quiere darle salida para fichar a João Pedro o Isak. Fórmula, cesión con opción de compra (35/40M€).
El jugador considera sus opciones. Ya no es una prioridad en Arabia Saudí.
C/ @JacobsBen. pic.twitter.com/8QebHPdKiV
— Eduardo Burgos (@edu17burgos) March 18, 2025
According to Edu Burgos and Ben Jacobs of GiveMeSport, Atlético and Saudi side Al-Nassr are considered the primary suitors for Núñez this summer, as expectation grows that Liverpool are getting ready to cut bait with the Uruguay international. Per the report, Atlético would be interested in acquiring Núñez amid escalating rumors that Antoine Griezmann is set to join MLS side Los Angeles FC, and the club might be willing pay up to €40 million — especially if Liverpool are amenable to loaning the player with an option or obligation for Atleti to purchase him in 2026.
Atlético chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín last month flatly denied that the club is interested in signing Núñez this summer; Gil, who rarely grants interview requests or issues public statements, may well have been posturing in light of this new report and recent developments surrounding the future of Griezmann, Atleti’s all-time top scorer with 197 goals. While his attacking output has waned this term, Núñez is one year removed from receiving “world-class” shouts as he racked up 19 goal contributions in the Premier League under former boss Jürgen Klopp; under Slot, Núñez has recorded only five goals and two assists across 970 minutes in the Prem, which works out to 0.56 expected goals and expected assists per 90 minutes. Over his first two campaigns in England, Núñez posted 0.90 expected goals + assists per 90 or better (he bumped up the mark to 0.98 last season).
Núñez radar overlay, 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons.
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The above factors make Núñez an intriguing “buy low” candidate for Atlético, though his unfortunate track record of missing quality chances undoubtedly will elicit comparisons to Álvaro Morata. Núñez however is a different type of forward relative to Morata; he is physically strong, much more reminiscent of, say, Diego Costa, and he moves well off the ball. He would challenge center-backs in a different way from Julián Alvarez, and he would instantly become one of the team’s fastest players; a high press led by Núñez, Alvarez, and Giuliano Simeone might well be the stuff of Diego Simeone’s dreams. Plus, Núñez already has a Uruguay teammate, Josema Giménez, playing for Atleti, and he would have an opportunity to enrich the club’s history with Uruguayan strikers after Diego Forlán and Luis Suárez found success here.
If Atlético follow up on its reported interest, and Núñez decides that he wants to return to Spain, his salary of around €9 million might provide a stumbling block. But beyond the banter and the memes from his time on Merseyside, there’s a lot to like about Núñez’s potential fit at Atleti.
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