Darwin Nunez has taken to social media as he jets away at the end of a testing season for the Liverpool forward.
The 24-year-old came in for widespread criticism during his second year at the club for his wayward finishing as well as his conduct in the final weeks of the campaign. He was picked out by supporters for wiping his Instagram profile almost fully clean of anything Reds-related before then being seen not applauding Jurgen Klopp during his farewell guard of honour.
Nunez has also been under the microscope for his form on the pitch. After an erratic first 12 months in England, he improved his Premier League output by two, reaching 11 goals and adding five more assists (eight in total). His unpredictable nature in front of goal saw him manage just one goal in the final 10 weeks of the season, though, as Liverpool’s title hopes unravelled.
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It is in this context that he has been scrutinised by many. Ahead of Arne Slot’s arrival this summerm, it is now a key period for the former Benfica man as he looks to assert himself.
He has already come out to speak about Klopp’s exit, seemingly putting any suggestion of a fallout to bed. “We were all a little shocked by Klopp’s departure, no-one expected it,” he said. “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.”
Now, before joining up with Slot and his Liverpool teammates for pre-season in just over a month, Nunez will first be taking some time off as well as looking to have a successful Copa America with his country. Managed by Marcelo Bielsa, Uruguay are aiming to push their peers in a hotly contested tournament.
The South American side face Costa Rica next weekend before another friendly against Mexico. It is then down to business with group games against Panama, Bolivia, and USA.
Now, using Instagram to update fans on his whereabouts, Nunez has posted a series of images of his arrival in Uruguay. Smiling in a way rarely seen in the latter weeks of the domestic season, he captioned the pictures with a happy face and light blue heart emoji.
Adding them to his story, he also added a Uruguay flag and bicep emoji. For Liverpool fans, they will be hopeful that he can return to Merseyside ready to fire next season.