2 years ago
For Liverpool, DARWIN NUNEZ has had a difficult preseason thus far.
Darwin Nunez's skill has already been questioned by opposing supporters after just two preseason games, but Liverpool must give the striker plenty of time to adjust to life at the club. especially if he is to take Sadio Mane's place.
The ease with which recent additions have fit into Jurgen Klopp's team is a fortunate development. While Luis Diaz raised questions in January with his ability to adapt to the Premier League like a duck to water, Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk established a solid relationship from the start.
That won't always be the case, though, as the team from Anfield is among the greatest in the world and plays with an energy and a style that other elite clubs would find difficult to match. This will be especially true for a player seeking to succeed Mane, a world-class forward who has an £85 million price tag.
Liverpool is aware of this, though, and has always given players a chance to gradually catch up. Naby Keita even acknowledged this when he first joined the team that he needed time to adjust. In 2018, he stated in Liverpool's club magazine:"Numerous sources have informed me that, depending on the situation, many foreign players enter the Premier League and take some time to adjust.
Nunez had trouble versus Crystal Palace. (Photo)
"Playing in the Premier League can be challenging, but I am highly driven to do so for the club as well as for myself and my teammates. I have received a lot of support from everyone around me, therefore I will do everything in my power to rapidly integrate into the team.
Videos of Nunez's poor performances against Manchester United and Crystal Palace rapidly went popular online, demonstrating how much improvement his passing and build-up play needs.A pre-season is by no means the perfect time to evaluate a new signing, but it did show that the 23-year-old would require some time to develop.
Keita mentioned that he required time to adjust (Image)
Keita joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2018, and while they haven't fully reaped the rewards of their patience with him yet, he has already established himself in the English Premier League and is frequently rotated into Liverpool's midfield trio. It will be interesting to watch how Jude Bellingham's anticipated departure from Borussia Dortmund next summer affects that.
From Thiago Alcantara to Roberto Firmino, there are many Merseyside stars who may be named as needing the transition time, but they soon displayed their class. Nunez scored 26 goals in 24 league games for Benfica last season, demonstrating his ability to finish at a high level. It won't be long before he can demonstrate this in England.
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