'I met Darwin Nunez and can see why Liverpool and Arne Slot decided to sell him'

The Reds have been forced to rely on just one center-forward for nearly three months due to Alexander Isak's injury, but one ex-Uruguayan international understands the decision to let Nunez depart

Gus Poyet has said he can understand why Liverpool sold Darwin Nunez last summer(Image: Getty Images)

Former Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder Gus Poyet feels Liverpool is missing the presence of Darwin Nunez this season, but said he can understand why the club allowed the striker to leave last summer.

Nunez joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal for a fee of up to €75 million ($87M/£64M) in August, and after some initial success, has been frozen out since the arrival of Karim Benzema. The ex-Liverpool striker is not even registered to play in league matches, and can only feature in the Asian Champions League.

Meanwhile, Liverpool is struggling for attacking options, with Alexander Isak and Jayden Danns injured. The Reds have been forced to rely solely upon Hugo Ekitike for nearly three months. That physical demand has taken its toll on the Frenchman, who was rested for Friday’s FA Cup win over Wolves after a recent drop in performances.

The unfortunate duel situations have led to suggestions that Liverpool should have retained Nunez, but Poyet, his native Uruguayan, feels the time was right for the 26-year-old to leave last summer.

“I was not surprised, to be honest. There was a moment in the beginning with the club that it looked like it was the no.9,” Poyet exclusively told Liverpool.com, via 7bet casino and sportsbook.

“Then he was in and out, and then even a few games on the left. And then when he changed the coach, you think it’s now, but no. After winning the league and getting to certain levels that you say: ‘Okay, I achieved what I achieved here, and it's time to move to a new incredible situation in Saudi Arabia’.”

Nunez's time in Saudi Arabia ahas been hugely frustrating(Image: Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Nunez managed just one Premier League start in the second half of last season, with Arne Slot often opting to play a winger - Luis Diaz - as a no.9 rather than the ex-Benfica man.

Poyet, who met Nunez at Liverpool’s training ground during his time as Greece manager, said the passionate forward was not suited to a back-up role.

“Darwin had the position of: ‘I want to be the no.9’. And he never achieved that. Because of that, it was becoming a little bit more frustrating, especially when he was going to the national team and not being as fit as you would like because you didn't play too many games.

“Players know their position in the team. There are people who play 50-50 and feel really good because they are feeling part and because they know their position in the team and like and accept that.

Poyet spoke exclusively to Liverpool.com

“Others don't like the 50-50 and they want to play. That's something that you create between the relationship with the coach or the coaching staff and the player. That [decides whether] players stay longer without playing all the time or not.

“I thought that Darwin got to a point where he wanted to play, and probably now, looking back, Liverpool will be able to use him because of the quantity of games and the importance of the game, but that is gone now.

“His momentum took him to Saudi I imagine, with his contract and the possibility of playing. He took that decision, that for me, it was interesting. I'm not saying it was right or wrong because it’s a family matter, but he was so unlucky with the situation with Benzema.

“Now he cannot play in the league, so that put him a little bit backwards to one of the main decisions where to go there.”