Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino believes Darwin Nunez is not yet ready to play for a club such as Liverpool.
Speaking on talkSPORT (h/t Tribal Football), former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino has raised concerns about Darwin Nunez and his ability to make an immediate impact at Liverpool.
The Uruguayan international enjoyed a stellar season with Benfica in 2021/22, earning rave reviews for his performances. He was particularly impressive against a dominant Liverpool side in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, scoring in both legs despite Benfica’s elimination.
Having lost Sadio Mane in the summer, the Reds moved to bring in Nunez for what could end up being their most expensive purchase in history. To say that the 23-year-old has the weight of expectations on his shoulders would not be amiss.
😳 “Nunez is not ready enough to be in this Liverpool team!”
🤔 “I’m not saying he hasn’t got an #LFC future, because he has…”
👎 “But there are certain players who are not playing well!”
Tony Cascarino has been disappointed with Darwin Nunez so far! pic.twitter.com/SygfvVXFmm
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) October 30, 2022
Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino believes the Uruguayan striker is not ready to lead the Reds’ attack yet. This comes after he failed to show off his clinical side in front of the goal in the shock 2-1 loss to Leeds United in the Premier League.
“He’s not ready enough to be in the Liverpool team.”
The comments do not appear to be an ability to chastise the player but rather an observation of Liverpool’s struggles as a whole at the moment. Cascarino admits that Nunez has a future at Liverpool but that he is not yet ready to be the player that the Reds need him to be.
“He’s not ready to be in this type of Liverpool team, that’s the difference. I’m not saying he hasn’t got a Liverpool future, he has,” the ex-Chelsea striker said.
A dynamic attacker with pace to burn, Nunez is the archetypical striker who is expected to hold up the ball and also bang in goals for fun. His pace and movement definitely add another dimension to his game, giving the Reds a player who is both a battering ram and also technically proficient.
Nunez’s return of six goals and one assist from 14 matches across all competitions is by no means bad. In fact, it is a decent return from a player who is still dating to life in England. The Liverpool striker could have had many more if his finishing was a trad more clinical.
With the Uruguayan international still adjusting to life in the Premier League, the Reds should not be in a position to pin all their hopes on Nunez. The onus is on the senior Liverpool players to step up their game and make life easier for the youngster to develop at his own pace.
There is certainly an exciting player in Nunez, who could go on to become a reliable superstar on Merseyside in the years to come. The star summer signing’s legacy at Liverpool is still in its infancy, and there is yet a long way to go.
