Darwin Nunez is one of the most in-form players in football today. The Uruguayan national is so hot at the moment that his market value has reached around £60 to 66 million from £37 million in just a couple of months. Nunez had his breakout season with Benfica, and it is more than likely that he will leave the Portuguese club in the summer.
Style of Play
Darwin Nunez is a tall and strong forward. He is blessed with quickness and agility as well. His explosiveness in the change of pace and direction might be his greatest asset. Despite being just 22, it’s palpable that he is a student of the game and it shows in the way he moves and reads the room. He is great in his movements, scanning his teammates and opponents, and finding and attacking spaces. As a striker, he possesses a keen eye for goals and his stats show that. However, he is also not that bad of a creator himself. This allows him to play as a winger as well.
Concern
All said, Nunez is far from being a finished product. His passing is disastrous, to say the least. He has a passing accuracy of 64.7% in the Primeira Liga and 56.5% in the Champions League. It is despite completing only 11.7 passes per 90 minutes. Also, he doesn’t use his physicality to his advantage for hold-up plays. This might discourage some big clubs who play possession-based football. His quickness and strength make him a weapon for a team that relies on counter-attacking. This is why he has thrived playing for Benfica. But the raw pace and brute power can only take you this far. He needs to work on his technical abilities to compete with some of the best in the world. He also needs to brush up on his aerial abilities if he wants to establish himself in the big leagues.
Strength in Numbers
Nunez has 33 goals and 4 assists this season for Benfica in just 38 games. He is directly involved in a goal every 69 minutes, which is simply outrageous. In his last 6 games for Benfica, Nunez has 8 goals and 2 assists. In those 6 games, he faced Ajax, Braga, B-SAD, Sporting CP, and Liverpool (twice). So, it’s obvious that he doesn’t get lost when the lights get the brightest. Often this indicates the pedigree and mettle of a young player. His rapid rise to fame and recognition may seem like a journey of a fortnight. However, it’s the culmination of hard work, dedication, and opportunity. If he continues to work on his game and keeps pushing his limits, then he can be one of the best forwards in years to come.
The way Nunez has performed this season and considering him maintaining that high level of performance even in the big games against big teams, plenty of big boys in Europe would be keen to rope him in. Despite the aforementioned flaws, no one can deny his strengths and upside because he is one special talent. Thus, many of the top clubs would love to have him. The likes of Klopp and Ten Hag aren’t impressed by him for nothing. The sources are considering Manchester United, Chelsea, and PSG as the front-runners to secure his signature. So, be alert because the bidding war is incoming for Darwin Nunez.
