Keeping Darwin Nunez from Liverpool was ‘completely impossible’, claims Benfica president Rui Costa

Keeping Darwin Nunez was ‘completely impossible’, claims Benfica president Rui Costa – as he insists the sale of £85m star man to Liverpool will help was ‘not open to discussion’ because ‘we are still coming out of the pandemic’

  • Sale of Darwin Nunez to Liverpool defended by Benfica president Rui Costa 
  • The striker joined the Reds in the summer for a potential club record £85million
  • Costa claims the money will help the Portuguese side in the football market 
  • Nunez has scored just two goals in five games since signing for Liverpool

Benfica president Rui Costa believes the sale of striker Darwin Nunez to Liverpool is a decision that is more than ‘justified’ due to the finances involved in the deal.

Nunez swapped the beaches of Lisbon for the docklands of Liverpool in the summer transfer window in a deal worth potentially £85million, which would surpass the club record £75m paid to Southampton for Virgil van Dijk in 2018.

The Reds paid a fee of £64m up front to sign the Uruguayan, but so far he has struggled to prove he was worth such a big fee.

Benfica president Rui Costa (right) has said the fee for Darwin Nunez 'justified' his sale

Benfica president Rui Costa (right) has said the fee for Darwin Nunez ‘justified’ his sale

Despite scoring the winning goal in the Community Shield against Manchester City and on his Premier League debut against Fulham, Nunez has not experienced many highs in a Liverpool shirt so far as he has spent three games suspended for head-butting Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen, before making his return in the 0-0 draw against Everton.

Nunez was also unable to find the net against Napoli in the Champions League as Liverpool were thrashed 4-1 in Naples.

However during his time at Benfica, the 23-year-old was one of the most prolific forwards in Europe last season as he netted 32 goals in only 40 appearances in all competitions, including two against the Reds in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Striker Darwin Nunez (left) has so far struggled to hit his best form since joining Liverpool

Striker Darwin Nunez (left) has so far struggled to hit his best form since joining Liverpool

Costa has defended the decision to sell Nunez as he believes the finances involved in the deal will help the club in the football market going forward as they have previously struggled due to the pandemic.

He told BTV: ‘We are talking about one of the highest transfers of the market. We are still coming out of a pandemic situation, which held back the football market. Making a sale of €75+€25m is not open to discussion.

‘The sale of Darwin is more than justified. There weren’t even conditions to keep him, it was completely impossible, for the values that came into the club and for what Darwin went on to earn.’

Since selling Nunez, Benfica have started the new season in good form, winning all six of their Liga Portugal games and their Champions League group stage opener against Maccabi Haifa.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (pictured) will be hoping Nunez starts scoring regularly

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (pictured) will be hoping Nunez starts scoring regularly

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