Darwin Nunez, the 26-year-old striker for Liverpool, has emerged as a potential target for Serie A champions Napoli, who are reportedly willing to offer £47.3 million for his services. For Nunez, he needs a fresh start, one he can have nowhere near Liverpool. Like any good young striker, he’s hoping to be in position to score plenty of goals.
Since his arrival at Liverpool, Nunez has played 95 times in the English top-flight, netting on 25 occasions. For all that production, he’s been painfully bad with his finishing. He finished with an expected goals (xG) total of 33 but wasted eight clear goal-scoring opportunities. Fans and analysts alike have been barking about his lack of progress. In fact, he has missed the mark on his xG over the last three seasons with the club.
Antonio Conte, current head coach of Napoli, recognized unrealized potential with Nunez. The manager knows that striker’s raw talent can only be fully harnessed within the organized play his tight team is known for. Nunez’s unpolished finishing has been viewed as a concerning Achilles heel. There is hope that under Conte’s guidance, he could transform into a more efficient goal-scorer.
Valentina Fass, a reporter for Sky in Italy, commented on Napoli’s current situation and how it could benefit a player like Nunez.
“At the moment, Napoli have a really good group of players and they’re mentally happy and relaxed. This is why players who come in tend to do well there, and it is because of the way Conte has organised the team.” – Valentina Fass
Napoli’s interest hinges on them finalizing a deal for their current striker, Victor Osimhen. He has been heavily rumored to be making a move to Turkish giant Galatasaray. The Serie A club will only move ahead with their interest in Nunez when the deal for this striker is done.
Nunez’s journey at Liverpool has certainly been an ocean of ebbs and flows. Milner was obviously delighted, as seen in his joining fans in an unforgettable celebration when Liverpool were crowned Premier League champions in April. As ever, under the glaring sunshine, he danced with a cigar and beer in hand as he saluted the Kop. With a return to inconsistent performances and reports of poor body language, his future at Anfield has been in question.
Regardless of these stark unevenness, there have been minutes of magic that mark Nunez a player to be ranked alongside the world’s very best centre-forwards. His best moments wouldn’t look out of place on a highlight reel of the world’s top strikers. Still, he is very much an unfinished product and his next step will be key to his long-term career path.
The opportunity to arrive at Napoli would allow Nunez a stroke of lucked relief having had a difficult season at Liverpool. If that development includes him becoming Napoli’s No.1 striker, he’ll be in an excellent place to develop further. This opportunity might just provide the perfect nurturing climate for his growth.
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