Former Liverpool defender Abel Xavier believes Matheus Nunes would have few problems adapting to life in the Premier League with his Sporting Lisbon exit only ‘a matter of time’, speaking to Eleven Sports.
A matter of time, maybe. But that time has not yet arrived.
Sporting coach Ruben Amorim made no attempt to hide his delight last week when he confirmed that the Brazil-born Portugal international had turned down ‘life-changing opportunities’ from abroad in order to spend at least another year at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Nunes, then, will still be a Sporting player in 2023. But 2024? Well, that could be a very different story.
“(Nunes can) adapt to any top team in England,” says former Portugal international Xavier, who spent two years at Anfield around the turn of the Century, via Noticias ao Minuto.
“It is normal that not only Liverpool but also of Manchester City, who may eventually lose a player in that position, may be thinking about Matheus Nunes. His departure from Sporting is a matter of time.”
Matheus Nunes will leave Sporting Lisbon at some point
A dynamic, thrusting central midfielder famously labelled one of the best in the world by Pep Guardiola, the £42 million-rated Nunes has been linked with Liverpool after turning down a £35,000-a-week deal at Wolverhampton Wanderers (CM Jornal).
Manchester City, meanwhile, reportedly see the 23-year-old as a long-term Bernardo Silva replacement, per Jose Alvarez.
And if Nunes can emulate the immediate impact made by other Primeira Liga imports on English soil, this will be £42 million very well spent.
“I think it’s remarkable. Fabio Carvalho, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Darwin (Nunez); Players who passed through the Portuguese championship, for big teams, and made an impact,” Xavier adds, without mentioning Bruno Fernandes and Ruben Dias.
“It’s not easy to adapt to England.
“We have Wolves and Bruno Lage doing a great job. We have Joao Palhinha joining Fulham, Marco Silva returning to the Premier League with a very interesting philosophy.
“I think Portuguese football is valued as a whole, as well as the quality of its coaches and players.”
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