Last night, Liverpool fans and millions more watched Goncalo Ramos – a teammate of Darwin Nunez at Benfica – run riot on his World Cup debut.
The 21-year-old was trusted to start Portugal’s Round of 16 clash against Switzerland ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, and he certainly delivered for Fernando Santos as he scored a hat-trick in the resounding 6-1 win.
After watching him add millions to his price tag in Qatar, Liverpool will surely be kicking themselves.
What’s the story?
Well, Liverpool were in talks with Benfica over the summer regarding a deal for Nunez, following an outstanding 2021/22 campaign in which he scored 34 goals across all competitions.
Eventually, a £64m deal was agreed, and the Uruguay international has done well at Anfield with nine goals in 18 appearances so far.
However, Liverpool will kick themselves for not also striking a deal for Ramos, who now looks set to be the next significant export from Portuguese football.
You may argue that Jürgen Klopp had no need for the Benfica No.88 having already signed Nunez, but after waving goodbye to Divock Origi, Sadio Mane and Takumi Minamino, the German definitely needed another forward.
There may also be a question mark over whether Benfica would have sold two strikers in one window, although every player has his price, and Liverpool usually have the foresight to snap up these players before they become superstars, like they did with Mane and Mohamed Salah.
Additionally, Portuguese sides do not possess the financial power of those in England, so a respectable bid would have surely been tempting.
Since watching his Benfica teammate Nunez depart for Merseyside in the summer, Ramos has scored 14 goals in 21 appearances, while also providing six assists.
That is impressive in itself, but his hat-trick at the World Cup has now put his name up in lights on the global stage.
Liverpool not the only ones to kick themselves over Goncalo Ramos
Putting Liverpool aside for a moment, plenty of Premier League sides will be devastated that they didn’t make more of a push to sign Ramos.
According to The Athletic, Southampton held talks over a £25m deal for the Portugal international, as they attempted to replace Armando Broja.
90min added that Crystal Palace were interested in Ramos as well, while Pedro Sepulveda – a Portuguese football journalist – told Sky Sports: “Bruno Lage has already made the call to Ramos to know if he wants to join Wolves.”
Clearly, it isn’t just Liverpool who will regret not making more of an effort to sign this rising sensation.
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