Is The Napoli Tonic Enough To Refresh Darwin Núñez’s Career?

Darwin Núñez could be out the Liverpool exit door very soon.

The striker, 26 years old today, is reportedly attracting interest from Serie A champion Napoli. How much the Uruguayan—who’s been at the Anfield club for three years—would exactly cost at this initial stage remains unclear, yet a move seems probable.

As winners of their domestic divisions, both sides want to capitalize on their advantageous positions this offseason. Looking at its transfer market activity, Napoli is chasing stunted talents with more to offer, and Núñez falls into that bracket. Meanwhile, Liverpool can sell someone who has occasionally sparkled but not transformed into the deadly striker envisaged since joining from Benfica: 40 goals in 140 appearances for the Reds is underwhelming.

Given that he was Liverpool’s most expensive signing—the €75 million ($87 million) plus add-ons even trickling down to Almería in Spain—there may be a temptation to see how he performs with a master creator in new record addition Florian Wirtz behind him. That said, talk of Núñez clicking into gear has rumbled on for ages, and it just hasn’t happened, meaning the Premier League title holder would perhaps benefit more from recouping some of its initial investment.

Selling the number nine keeps up an already busy spell for Liverpool. On top of Wirtz, it’s signed adventurous wide player Jeremie Frimpong, goalkeeper Ármin Pécsi—who settles in with fellow stopper Giorgi Mamardashvili—and is soon to add full-back Milos Kerkez to the lineup. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhín Kelleher, and Nathaniel Phillips have walked the other way.

Napoli’s Project Is Attractive

Changing over to Napoli appeals for multiple reasons. As well as being a beautiful destination with a soccer-mad population, two Scudettos in three years attracts a new name—even if the middle campaign was a disappointing mid-table finish. That the Neapolitans have considered Núñez is hardly astounding and screams the perfect match.

As part of the sporting plan, the team has sought personalities known to England’s Premier League lately: Romelu Lukaku, Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour are some of the hits, and perhaps Kevin De Bruyne next. Coming up, Jack Grealish and Alejandro Garnacho are subject to possible transfers to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, each needing a place to thrive.

For a character like Núñez, crucial will be his relationship with Napoli coach Antonio Conte. It has the makings of a blockbuster pairing; Conte is an intense leader, while Núñez’s game is known for being chaotic, running on emotion. Can the Italian be the figure to make Núñez burn brighter, or will a goal rush, glimpsed best in the 2021/2022 campaign in Portugal, stay latent during his supposed peak years?

The South American’s word of choice, at least on his social media, is resilencia, or resilience, and he’s spoken about pushing through challenges before. It’s clear that confidence, the ghost in the machine, is a curious phenomenon around Núñez, delivering in fits and starts rather than going on a run of stellar performances. Amidst all that, you can misread Núñez; he’s increasingly worked hard and linked up well with teammates when not scoring for Liverpool.

Such has rendered him a cult hero on Merseyside. And if he slots into a preferable formation in southern Italy, the perfect place for a new craze, there’s a chance he becomes the real deal.