Former Manchester United star Diego Forlan has hailed Darwin Nunez for putting his early struggles at Liverpool behind him.
Nunez was sent off in his second Premier League outing for the Reds in an early blow as he bedded in at Anfield. The striker has also had to deal with the weight of being the most expensive signing in Liverpool's history.
But since returning from suspension, he has become a reliable goalscorer for Jurgen Klopp's men, hitting the back of the net eight times in 16 games this term. And Forlan has given his backing to the 23-year-old, who he believes can learn a lot from Klopp.
“I think he’s been good. Of course, I think maybe everybody was expecting more goals or maybe because of the amount of money they paid for him but I think he’s really good," Forlan told talkSPORT.
“He’s been scoring goals, he’s playing. It’s difficult, now also the team is struggling a little bit because in the Premier League they’re not doing the way they were doing the last couple of years.
“But he has a great manager, very experienced. He will learn a lot with him and also with the players. So I think he’s doing his job and of course, he can improve, and he will improve in the future.”
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Back in May, Forlan had urged Nunez to join Manchester United, rather than Liverpool. He insisted it would be "spectacular" for the Uruguayan to move to Old Trafford and that it would be a good place for him.
“He is a player who has a lot of potential and he could fit in at Manchester United. But obviously, everyone needs to have patience, although he is getting better with more and more experience," he told Breaking the Lines.
“He would not be a bad signing for Manchester United and it would be nice to see him there. It is a club that gives you time, that makes you feel comfortable and as if you are in a familiar place, very cosy and nice.
"It would be spectacular having him playing for Manchester United. I think that he is a very good player, a good kid who is doing really well at Benfica and is enjoying a strong season."
Nunez is currently in the Middle East with the Uruguayan national team as they prepare for the World Cup. And the Liverpool star is itching the get their campaign underway, with their first game coming next Thursday against South Korea.
"We come here and we know that we're not favourites, but we're going to fight. Four years ago I watched the tournament on TV and now I'm here with all the beasts. This has only just begun," Nunez said.
"The first game is the first objective and South Korea are a strong team, they're in the World Cup for a reason... everyone is strong, but so are we. We want to go far, our goal is to win the World Cup."
