Darwin Nunez vented ‘I go home sad’ after scoring for Benfica at home to Liverpool in the Champions League, as the reported Arsenal transfer target only wants to be winning titles.
As Aguias hosted the Reds in Lisbon on Tuesday night for the first-leg of their quarter-final tie. But goals from Ibrahima Konate, Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz afforded Jurgen Klopp’s side a strong lead heading into next Wednesday’s reverse at Anfield, despite Nunez also netting.
The Uruguayan offered his Portuguese giants hope of keeping the tie close by pulling the score back to 2-1. Konate missed his kick attempting to clear Rafa Silva’s low cross, to gift Nunez a chance to fire home his fifth Champions League goal this term from close range.
Nunez had already scored in Europe against Barcelona (twice), Bayern Munich and Ajax to help Benfica reach the quarter-finals. He also has 21 in 23 Portuguese top-flight games and two in As Aguias’ three domestic cup ties. The 22-year-old has a total of three assists, too.
Benfica will rue Nunez spurning a later chance to beat Alisson after breaking in behind the Liverpool defence. But as the eight-cap star moved to shoot, Virgil van Dijk body checked him in the box. Yet referee Jesus Gil Manzano was unmoved, and no VAR check occurred.
Arsenal target Darwin Nunez vents ‘what I want’ is titles after scoring in UCL
Clubs like Arsenal will have taken note of Nunez scoring for Benfica against Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday. 90min report the Gunners have held talks with the Artigas-born striker’s agent over a move to the Premier League as Mikel Arteta eyes new forwards.
Although The Telegraph also report Arsenal trail Manchester United in the severity of their interest in the £60m Benfica attacker. Yet both club’s pursuits will hinge on them qualifying for the Champions League next term. They currently trail Tottenham in the top-four race.
Nunez has now hinted at another key factor to any transfer, as the Benfica ace Arsenal want is not satisfied with only scoring in the Champions League, he wants to be lifting silverware.
“I’m not happy for having scored a goal. What I want here is to win titles, not score goals,” he said, via A Bola. “I go home sad. Now, it’s time to rest and prepare for the next game.”
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