Darwin Nunez, a striker for Liverpool, speaks out after his two goals on Sunday helped the Reds defeat Newcastle United 2-1.
On August 27, 2023, at St. James Park, during a Premier League game between Newcastle United and Liverpool FC, Darwin Nunez celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal to tie the score.
Darwin Nunez has admitted that, as a result of the online vitriol he has received since relocating to Liverpool last year, he no longer spends much time on social media.
And the £64 million striker acknowledges that before the Reds’ 10-man team won it late at St. James’ Park on Sunday, he was “angry” going into the match.
Nunez was sent on to finish the game after Alexis MacAllister was removed after 77 minutes, when Jurgen Klopp’s team trailed 1-0 thanks to a goal from Anthony Gordon and Virgil van Dijk had been sent out before the half-hour mark.
Nunez was the center of heated discussion when he first arrived at Anfield, with online trolls going viral with videos of the striker’s misses in front of goal. Nunez could eventually make him the club’s record signing at £85m.
Despite efforts to make fun of him, the 24-year-old managed a decent 15 goals across all competitions last season and is off to a strong start this year with a well-taken double that made sure Klopp’s squad left Newcastle with all three points over the weekend.
Nunez claims to have spent a great deal of time browsing social media platforms in the past but has now learnt to pull back and is now “working in silence” away from the cacophony.
“I used to spend all of my time on social media networks,
It damaged me,” Nunez said to ESPN. Although I am working in silence and things are going well for me, they claim that they continue to criticize me. I’ll let them say what they want because my head is in order.
I appreciate the coach’s judgment because they choose who will play. I continue to work in silence, and no matter how the minutes affect me, I will still come in, do my job, and give it my all.
“How can I not enter angry when I enter every game angry? A player always wants to start right away, especially when things have been going well for him. I do my best every time I have to enter, and when the coach selects the team, I am [in the team].
“We all share both the wins and the losses. I want it to succeed and for everyone to share in that success. We didn’t have a terrific season last year; hopefully, we’ll have a better season this year.
They (the remainder of the attack) are top-tier athletes, and I play for a large club where there will be strong competition among the players.
Prior to Nunez entering to receive his Man of the Match award from the presenter, Alisson Becker finished up post-match media responsibilities for Sky Sports. Alisson, who is currently learning English at the club’s AXA Training Center, interpreted the next queries for the Uruguayan striker.
Nunez acknowledges that he is forced to speak English while he is around the team in an effort to improve his language skills, something manager Klopp has mentioned a few times when talking about his No. 9. Nunez is informed of important information by the Portuguese and Spanish-speaking members of the Liverpool set-up.
“I told [Alisson] I didn’t know, he said yes, and I denied him,” the speaker continued. Ali ultimately did my translation. I simply wanted to say thank you for your help. You feel uneasy because they are forcing you to speak in English while you don’t speak much (laughs).
