Arne Slot has spoken to Darwin Nunez at the Copa America to tell him what role he sees him playing for Liverpool next season, after questions were asked about the Uruguayan’s long-term future at Anfield
Arne Slot has spoken to Darwin Nunez to assure him he will play a starring role for Liverpool next season.
Nunez became frustrated towards the end of last season, as he went 10 games without scoring, and fell out with the Anfield crowd. He deleted every post of him in a Liverpool kit from his Instagram account in a fit of pique, fuelling talk he wanted to join Barcelona.
Barcelona don’t have the money to buy Nunez and Slot has spoken to him at the Copa America, where he has scored twice in his last three games, to tell the Uruguay star he sees him playing a pivotal role for Liverpool. Slot noted the different attacking positions he had under previous boss Jurgen Klopp and has told him where he wants him to play.
“I just told him that, from what I saw, he played multiple positions and what positions – or position – I see him playing,” said the Liverpool head coach. “I assume he’ll fit really well into this playing style because I like him. I’ve told him that already, he’s one of the players I’ve spoken to.
“He might have had some struggles with finishing opportunities, but he came a lot of times into those positions. I think he could fit in really well, but it’s normal at a club like this that there are many more players who could play in his position.
“It’s clear for him which position he’s going to play. It’s clear for me as well and me telling him made it clear for him.”
Slot sees Nunez fitting into his attacking vision for the Reds and he revealed he first saw them live in February 2017 when they beat Tottenham 2-0 at Anfield. Slot, who was then coach of Dutch side Cambuur Leeuwarden, was invited by former Reds No.2 and his friend Pep Lijnders to Anfield and went to scout Pedro Chirivella with former sporting director Michael Edwards. ,
Liverpool beat Tottenham to end a five-game winless run to go on and qualify for the Champions League for the first time under Klopp and Slot was impressed by the bond between the team and the fans.
“I got a feel for the club,” he said. “It was before they won the Premier League and Champions League under Jurgen. Everyone was positive even back then without the team winning trophies.”
Slot wants to continue Klopp’s success at Anfield and make them champions again.
“Our aim should be that we want to win and be on top of the league,” he said. “We want to be there for 38 games.
“But to get in that position, it takes a lot of hard work on a daily basis to come in here and improve and improve and improve and improve. That’s what we have to do.”
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