Portuguese media furious with Liverpool over Darwin Nunez as other clubs named

A Bola has criticized Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester United for the failure of several recent Premier League signings from Portugal, arguing that the problem lies with the buying clubs

Darwin Nunez failed to show his best at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

A Portuguese media outlet has taken a swipe at Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool over the unsuccessful Premier League signings from Portugal in recent times.

The fascination of English soccer with Portugal kicked off two decades ago with the arrival of two individuals who would become titans in the sport - Jose Mourinho from Porto and Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting Lisbon.

Their triumphs at Chelsea and United, respectively, sparked an increased interest in both players and managers from the Iberian nation. A host of remarkable talents have since followed their path from Portugal to England, including Ricardo Carvalho and Nani in the noughties, through to Ruben Dias, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Wolves' well-known connection to the country.

While many have flourished, it's fair to say that some have failed to make their mark in the Premier League, particularly in recent years. This trend seems to be fuelling the notion that stars who shine in the Primeira Liga don't necessarily adapt well to the more physically challenging and competitive Premier League, a criticism previously levelled at the Dutch Eredivisie.

Now, an article by Portuguese publication A Bola, penned by journalist Joao Pimpim, suggests this romance could be on the brink of ending due to this growing perception.

Three recent cases - Ruben Amorim, Viktor Gyokeres, and former Liverpool star Darwin Nunez - were cited as examples.

Viktor Gyokeres is also struggling at Arsenal(Image: Getty Images)

Amorim, who had restored Portuguese outfit Sporting to the club's former glory and was rapidly becoming one of the most sought-after managers in soccer, was snapped up by United in November 2024. The club splashed out millions to terminate his contract early and bring him to Old Trafford.

However, his results dipped, his tactics were under constant scrutiny, and he was given his marching orders just 14 months later last week. His star striker at Sporting was Gyokeres, who topped the European goal charts last year and made a headline-grabbing move to Arsenal last summer.

However, the striker has struggled to replicate his form in London, netting just once from open play in his last 15 Premier League appearances.

Before these high-profile moves, there was the remarkable case of Nunez. Touted as one of the world's best forward talents at Benfica, he was signed by Liverpool in 2022, but he spent three seasons looking out of sorts before moving to Al-Hilal last summer.

Whether fair or not, all three have been called flops by the media and fans alike, with others, such as Joao Felix, formerly of Chelsea, also suffering a similar fate. However, an article in A Bola has now shifted the blame onto English clubs for these players' failures, suggesting it's more about their handling than a lack of ability or talent.

The crucial passage from the article states: "It gives pause for thought, yes, but when there are stars shining at the highest level, such as Joao Neves, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leao, is the problem with the selling market or... the buyers?"

The players mentioned are all flourishing at their respective clubs, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan, who currently sit second in their domestic leagues. The argument may well hold water.

Nunez worked hard and admirably to find himself in promising positions for Liverpool, yet squandered far more opportunities than he converted. Nevertheless, he contributed to a title-winning season and still scored 40 goals in 143 appearances for the Reds.