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By the time Darwin Nunez completed his move away from Anfield in August, it felt like it was right for all parties for the marriage to end.
Nunez was a fan favorite at Liverpool, but he did not score as prolifically as he had been expected to upon his arrival from Benfica in 2022, and his last season was his worst in terms of his goal return. Arne Slot did not fancy him as a long-term option through the middle, opting to refresh his forward line with the additions of Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak.
Interestingly, one of Nunez's former teammates, Alex Grimaldo, said this week that he was surprised by the criticism the striker received throughout his time in the Premier League.
"I thought that when he went to Liverpool, he was perfect for the Premier League, the type of player, and for Liverpool above all," Grimaldo said, via El Universo.
"He was a very fast, very powerful striker, with a lot of goals, a good shot.
"I think he’s scored a lot of goals, he’s played... I just don’t understand the criticism.
"It always happens that when there’s a very high price, they demand double or triple, and it’s not the player’s fault, because the player has nothing to do with the price.
"It’s between clubs.
"So, in the end, you go to a team like Liverpool, there’s pressure, they demand a lot of you.
"There’s always criticism, but I think he’s scored a lot of goals and assists for Liverpool anyway."
Since leaving Liverpool, Nunez has shown his quality, scoring four goals and registering two assists in seven appearances for new club Al-Hilal.
Nunez's critics might point to the fact that he is now playing in a much lower-quality league than the Premier League, and they would be right — but it is a league on the up, and any striker in any league would be happy with his return so far.
It can be right that Liverpool fans wanted a striker who could do more for their club than Nunez, but it can also be right that Grimaldo feels his old teammate was hard done by with the assessments of him during his time in England.
Nunez did not dictate his price tag, and he was far from a disaster in the Premier League, but Liverpool wanted more, and that's quite alright.
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