Darwin Núñez is a special footballer. At 22 years old, he breaks records at Benfica and establishes himself, without a doubt, as the best footballer in the Portuguese championship this season. He was already pointing ways in Almería, but his definitive explosion means that most of Europe’s greats have him on their agenda. As AS has learned, there are up to seven teams willing to undertake the operation this summer. He is in the head Manchester United, since it is an express request of Erik Ten Hag, your new technician. The Dutchman is in love with Darwin football, which would also fit perfectly in the Premier. In the new project of the ‘red devils’, references are needed to return the club to the top. And the until now Ajax coach is clear that the Uruguayan striker is one of them. Or even the protagonist.
There are more candidates. In fact, within the Premier League three others stand out: Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. The Emirates would arrive as the undisputed headliner. At Anfield, the operation may be conditioned by possible exits such as Mohamed Salah’s. Guardiola would go after him if he finally fails to sign Erling Haaland. It should be noted that the interest in Darwin Núñez comes in handfuls, despite the fact that his price will be around one hundred million euros, as this newspaper has learned. It has a clause of 150 million, but in Lisbon they are aware that it is their time to leave and make the leap to a continental giant. Therefore, they will not put obstacles if an offer of this magnitude arrives.
Not only in the Premier do they persecute the Uruguayan. Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid are also very interested. The rojiblancos intend to sell Morata. Darwin would be an ideal candidate. It would replace Luis Suárez and would give rise to the generational change. The former Almería player is very reminiscent of the legend in his youth. He is pure nerve, powerful, he responds to the profile of those Uruguayans who have given Simeone so much joy. His price is a hindrance, but there is the possibility of making money with the aforementioned Morata and other names. Barça is still thinking about Lewandowski, in what will be one of the summers with the most prominent names of the last decade. If he doesn’t sign the Pole, he would go for Núñez, although there is one but: the club’s economic situation has improved, although it is still far from going through its best moment. It would be one of those strategic operations that would be thought about a lot in the Camp Nou offices.
The next transfer window will be governed by the law of dominoes. One move will trigger another and so on. Precisely for this reason, Bayern is another of the great favorites to sign Darwin Núñez. The German giant has already been interested in his situation and sees him as an ideal substitute for Robert Lewandowski. He does not want his current striker and future Golden Boot to leave, although he assumes that his intention is to try a new adventure. That is when the Darwin operation would gain momentum. Benfica will receive calls, there is no doubt. There will be many galactics in contention and the battle without quarter is guaranteed. Until the Paris Saint Germain is in the middle However, there are a number of conditions such as the possible loss of Icardiother possible outputs still up in the air and the future of the Leonardo planner.
Darwin, from Almería to the world
The striker can already be considered a world star. A star… forged in Almería. The player became the most expensive sale in the history of the Second Division: 24 million euros and a future sales commission that will undoubtedly feed the entity’s coffers. Benfica was clear about who they were betting on and the player was ambitious: “It’s not a weight to be the most expensive signing in the history of Portugal. It’s a responsibility and I want to do it in the best possible way”. Already on his day he wanted Cavani to be in his own dressing room, to learn from him. He has not needed him, he himself has been generating some of the main qualities of a legend in his country.
The attacker said goodbye to Almería with pride and devotion: “Wherever I go I will remember them. It was an immense pride and happiness to wear their shirt. Almería never gives up!”. In 32 games visiting the Almeria shirt, he left his mark. He scored 16 goals and gave three assists. Above all, he showed an image of superiority for the category that aroused the interest of many. Benfica made the biggest effort. He came from the Second Division, yes, but the sensations spoke of a top-level footballer.
Olocip
Fish out of water and world star
In his first month of competition with Benfica, he already offered caliber numbers. He made three assists in his first three games. Jorge Jesús, his coach at that time, was clear that the public message he had to offer was not based on praise but in the demand for which he would be, if everything went his way, a huge footballer. This is how he spoke about his figure: “He could have scored a goal, but he gave another assist on a tray to a teammate. He is still a fish out of water, when he has the ball he knows what he has to do, but when he doesn’t have it, he doesn’t knows”.
To contextualize, these words arrived in September 2020. Since then, Darwin Núñez has become one of the best on the planet in explosiveness, use of space and positioning in the area. Already on the way, many realized what was to come. Shortly after his signing, these comments could already be read among his fans: “I doubt we can keep him here many more years“, “will end up cheap” o “this kid was a great investment“. Time has proved them right and also their coach, whose intention was nothing more than to put positive pressure on the player.
Olocip
Despite the good figures of Darwin Núñez, he was not considered as a scorer. He now is, in addition to many other qualities. Regarding the average goals per 90 minutes, he accumulates 1.14. A higher figure, attention, to some such Lewandowsli (1.08), Haaland (1), Benzema (0.95) or Mbappé (0.77). In absolute terms, the Uruguayan forward has scored 33 goals in 38 games. In the Portuguese League, 25 in 25. In the Champions League, 6 in 10. And what six! Santi Giménez, Barcelona’s chronicler in AS, titled “Darwin and the theory of Barça’s involution” after the Uruguayan wreaked havoc on Koeman’s team with a double in the victory by three goals to nil. Olocip places him as the best player in the Primeira Liga, with a value of 15.49. He is also the best in the competition in finishing, offensive value, shooting, foot goals, total shots, goals in play, decisive passes…
He also celebrated against Bayern. In the round of 16 against Ajax, he scored the decisive goal to achieve an unsuspected qualification at the beginning of the campaign. And he scored against Liverpool in both duels and saw how two other goals were annulled. His team could no longer overthrow the giant led by Klopp, who approached him to congratulate him for all the effort and difficulties he subjected them to for 180 minutes. At the moment, his ceiling is not in sight, much less, and in future dates he can make the leap to the next step to sit at the table of the ten best players on the planet. Without going any further, he will be Uruguay’s starting striker at the World Cup in Qatar, barring surprises, and a fixture in the lineup of a European great if Benfica allows it.
Until then, he must think about closing the season and his next professional break. AS has learned that United, Arsenal, Liverpool, City, Atlético de Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and PSG have already asked about him. It is said soon. The bid has an initial figure of one hundred million euros and some of them will be willing to put it up. Darwin, that star in the Second Division and a fish out of water in the early stages of his career in Portugal, is now a reality. A star who will move a lot of money in the market and whose stage in Lisbon is getting closer to concluding. There will be a whole battle for him.