- Sergiu Baltuta
- 14 days ago
Argentina vs Uruguay tips and predictions: Messi and co to sink Bielsa’s Celeste
Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay will look to build on a historic win over Brazil in a blood-and-thunder affair with rivals Argentina (Fri 0000 GMT).
Nunez is a striker who plays for Liverpool and the Uruguay national team, having previously played for Portuguese giants Benfica.
Regarded as one of the greatest young players in Europe, his 6'1 stature, natural finishing ability and pace make him a nightmare for defenders. A skillset that has earned him a £65m move to the Premier League.
Nunez started his career with Urguayan Primera Division side Penarol in 2017, before making the switch to Spanish side Almeria for £11million. After netting 16 goals in one season in the Spanish Second Division, SL Benfica swooped.
Nunez at Benfica
Nunez signed for Benfica for a club record fee of €24m in September 2020, and became only the second Uruguayan international to play for the side.
The number nine's first goal for the club came in a 4-2 away victory to Lech Poznan in the Europa League, in which he also scored his first hat-trick.
The 20/21 campaign ended with Nunez providing six goals and 10 assists in Liga NOS, to help Benfica to a third-place finish and qualification for the Champions League qualifying round.
Despite missing the start of the season with a knee injury, Nunez had a superb 2021/22 campaign. He scored 13 in his first 13 league appearances, and went on to become the division's top scorer with 26 goals in 28 appearances.
It was enough for Liverpool to part with £65million to bring Nunez to Anfield for the 2022/23 season. The fee could rise to £85 million with add-ons.
The evolution of Darwin 💫#DarwinDay pic.twitter.com/Y2XpcwxClH
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 14, 2022
Nunez's international career
Nunez has played for Uruguay at youth level and was part of their junior team at the 2019 FIFA Under-20 World Cup. He also represented Uruguay U-22 side at the 2019 Pan American Games.
Nunez made his senior international debut for Uruguay in a friendly against Peru in October 2019, where they were held to a 1-1 draw. He came on in the 75th minute and scored Uruguay's only goal.
His knee injury ruled him out of the 26-man Uruguay squad for the 2021 Copa America, but he was involved in their qualification for the 2022 World Cup qualification scoring once.
Nunez's personal life
Nunez's family hail from a poor neighbourhood, where his mother Silvia worked as a bottle hawker and his father Bibiano was a construction worker. He has an older brother called Junior who Darwin describes as his hero.
Nunez is in a long-term relationship with Lorena Manas and the couple announced the birth of their first child, a boy also called Darwin, in January 2022. Manas already has a daughter (Chloe) from a previous relationship with former Barcelona winger Aleix Vidal.
Nunez net worth
Nunez has a net worth of approximately £3million, but will see a major increase in his earnings once he completes his move to Anfield.
He is rumoured to be on a £5.1million salary per year with Liverpool, above the likes of Diogo Jota and on par with centre-back Joel Matip.
Darwin Nunez's boots
The former Benfica number nine wears the Nike Mercurial Superfly VIII Elite's. The boots are available in yellow, black, red, blue and white.
