Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez expresses REGRET over Klopp exit

Darwin Nunez endured a difficult ending to his second Liverpool season. He was dropped by now-departed manager Jurgen Klopp, starting only one of the final six Premier League games of the campaign and scored only once in his last 11 league matches. 

The Uruguyan’s form deserted him as the Reds slipped out of contention for the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Europa League, with the striker’s output in front of goal coming under severe scrutiny. 

Criticism reached a crescendo following the match against Tottenham in early May, a game won by Liverpool but in which Darwin again missed very presentable chances. 

Liverpool fans delivered unwarranted abuse to the 24-year-old via his social media accounts, prompting him to DELETE all traces of the club from his Instagram profile, aside from one image on the day he signed for the club back in 2022. 

The ex-Benfica striker was then heavily linked with a move to Barcelona although given a transfer fee of up to £85 million and a contract until 2028, it’s unlikely the cash-strapped Catalans can afford to sign him. 

Further controversy followed during Jurgen Klopp’s Anfield farewell, where it appeared that Darwin was the only Liverpool player not to applaud during the manager’s guard of honour. 

The player has since flown to Uruguay where preparations are underway for this summer’s Copa America, in which la Celeste commence their campaign against Panama in Florida on June 23. 

Before that Marcelo Bielsa’s side face warm-up matches against Costa Rica and Mexico. 

Nunez regrets lack of trophies in Klopp farewell

Reaching the De Carrasco airport in Montevideo, Uruguayan media caught up with the forward and quizzed him about Klopp’s exit. 

He admitted his SHOCK at the 56-year-old’s announcement, adding that there were no hard feelings, wishing his former manager well for the years ahead. 

However, Darwin also stated that he regretted that Liverpool’s players couldn’t give Klopp the trophy-laden send-off his work on Merseyside deserved. 

"We were all a little shocked by Klopp’s departure, no one expected it. It is a shame that he is leaving," he told Polideportivo.

"I personally would like him to [have left] in a big way, winning things, and it didn’t happen that way. It’s also a shame for the players. I wish him the best in the world."