What Darwin Nunez has said about his Liverpool future after Uruguay hattrick

Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez enjoyed a night to remember for Uruguay as he struck a fine hattrick in their 4-0 friendly victory over Mexico on Wednesday.

Nunez was on target within the first seven minutes in Colorado, slotting home from close range after his initial effort had been saved. After Facundo Pellistri doubled their advantage, Nunez netted two more either side of half-time to record a comfortable win for his nation.

Nunez has been in sensational form for Uruguay of late, netting eight goals in his last five international appearances. Former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa has won seven and drawn three of his 12 matches in charge and Uruguay are in a good run of form going into their Copa America opener on June 24.

Despite this, rumours continue to circle surrounding Nunez's club future after he ended the 2023/24 season without a goal in his final eight Premier League appearances, and just one in his last 11. Before the campaign had finished he deleted all traces of Liverpool from his social media profiles, sparking theories around a summer exit.

He was not seen clapping Jurgen Klopp during his emotional guard of honour following his final game in charge of Liverpool against Wolves. The issue has since been addressed but Nunez's underwhelming second season in England remains a cause for concern for some, despite still scoring 18 goals in all competitions.

Here, the ECHO takes a look at what Nunez has said during his two years with Liverpool so far.

May 26, 2024

"We were all a little shocked by Klopp's departure, no one expected it," Nunez told Uruguay news outlet, El Pais. "It is a shame that he is leaving.

"I personally would like him to leave in a big way, winning things, and it didn't happen that way. It's also a shame for the players. I wish him the best in the world."

May 22, 2024

“From the moment you start playing and until you retire, there will always be someone who will criticise you,” he told Por la Jersey (Channel 10 of Uruguay), quoted by ESPN. “I avoid reading those comments.

“Before, I did look at them a lot and it affected me. Whoever says that those negative comments do not affect them is lying, those negative comments that are directed towards you will always affect you.

“I never look at the negative comments on social media, at least now I'm not looking at anything, not even the good stuff. If a game goes badly for me, I rely on my family.

“When things go badly for me, I get hot, but I try to laugh with my family and not show my son the anger I have, what happened in the game is already there, it's already happened, and there is always revenge.”

August 2023

"I used to live watching the [social media] networks, it made me bad," Nunez told Sport890. "They say they keep criticising me, but I don't see anything [now], I am working in silence and things are working for me. For me, let them speak what they want, my head is fine.

"The coach is the one who decides who plays and I respect their opinion. I continue to work in silence, whatever minutes touch me, I will go in, do my job and try to do my best.

"I entered angry every game, how can I not enter angry? A player always wants to play from the start, more when he has been doing things well. Every time I have to enter I try to do my best, then the coach chooses the team, I am [in the team].

"We all win together and we lose all together. I want it to do well, and also to be that way collectively. Last year we didn't have a good season, I hope this year things will go better for us,

"They (rest of the attack) are high-level players, I'm at a big club, where there will be healthy competition between the players."

February 2023

"It is a case of adapting," Nunez told Sky Sports in February last year. "Adapting is important - and not only here at the club. Things have to be good on the football side, but also with your family, because if your family is OK, then you will always be OK. My family and I are good.

"Obviously, I still have many things to work on, for example my finishing. But I think the same thing is happening to me as happened to Suarez. In his second year, he tore it up.

"Something similar happened to me already at Benfica. The first year went very badly for me and in the second, I exploded.

"Here, I think the same thing is happening. I hope next season will be like that. I'll put my best forward and hopefully I'll get a bit of luck."