Benfica president Rui Costa has claimed that the sale of his star striker, Darwin Núñez, was “more than justified” and admitted that the figures involved in the transfer meant that it was “not open to discussion”.
The Uruguayan left the Portuguese capital for Liverpool earlier this summer in a deal worth an initial £64m (could rise to £85 with add-ons) after scoring 48 goals and registering 16 assists in 85 appearances for Benfica. .
Reds fans were clamoring for Jurgen Klopp to sign a new striker and that’s exactly what the German tactician did: Costa has now explained his thinking behind the transfer of a man who scored 34 goals last year alone (in all competitions).
“We are talking about one of the highest transfers on the market,” Costa told BTV (via Liverpool Echo).
“We are still coming out of a pandemic situation, which slowed down the football market. Making a sale of €75m+€25m is not open to discussion.
“The sale of Darwin is more than justified. There weren’t even conditions to hold him; It was completely impossible, because of the values that entered the club and because of what Darwin won”.
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It is completely understandable why the Portuguese team were so willing to accept such an offer from Liverpool despite Nunez being their main man.
The Portuguese top flight is not a financial behemoth like the English Premier League and, especially as many clubs around the world try to recover from the heavy financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, it is clear that this specific deal was a no-brainer for Benfica.
The 23-year-old started out running in the red shirt, but after scoring in his first two competitive games for the club, he was sent off for headbutting Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen.
The Uruguayan international’s arrival at Anfield means Klopp can now regularly operate with a full striker for virtually the first time since taking over in 2015.
Bobby Firmino, who has often been deployed as the central figure in Liverpool’s forward three under the German tactician, will continue to play his role this season for the club, as has already been seen, but with the option of a target man. suitable at the top end of the pitch is expected to benefit the Merseysiders this season.
We are yet to see the best of the former man from Almeria, but these are only the early days.
If Klopp thinks the striker was worth spending that amount of cash on, then we reckon it won’t be long until the striker is firing flat out.
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