Benfica boss Nelson Verissimo has claimed he values Darwin Nunez at the same price as João Félix following links to Arsenal and Manchester United.
Following a string of impressive performances, Nunez is rapidly becoming one of the hottest prospects inside European football. The 22-year-old took his tally for the season to 31 goals at the weekend, after firing a hat-trick in Benfica’s 3-1 victory over Belenenses. And now, it seems Nunez may face the same fate as former Benfica star Félix.
Félix left Benfica for Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a club-record fee of €126 million (£113 million).
Man Utd and Arsenal are among a number of top European clubs reportedly keen on tempting Nunez away from Portugal this summer.
His performance at the weekend is likely to have attracted even more attention too. And speaking after the match, Verissimo admitted it will be tough for his side to keep hold of the youngster.
As reported by Manchester Evening News, Verissimo said: “What do you think? Darwin is an excellent player, he has shown all his quality. He has helped the team a lot, it is true that the team has also helped him a lot.
“It will be at the end of this season or the following season, depending on what it has shown. It is natural that it will arouse interest from other clubs and naturally there may be the timing in which it goes.
“Now regarding numbers, I hope as a Benfica fan that it will go for numbers close to those that were João Félix’s numbers. Now it’s not for me to enter numbers on that field.
Benfica boss acknowledges Nunez attention
Verissimo went on to claim that he is aware big European clubs are already keeping tabs on Nunez.
Nunez brought Benfica back into their Champions League tie against Liverpool earlier in the week. The Uruguayan scored Benfica’s only goal as they were defeated 3-1 by Liverpool at home.
Benfica now face a difficult task if they are to remain in the Champions League. They travel to Anfield on Wednesday.
However, Verissimo acknowledged that the better the performance, the more attention his player will receive.
He said: “He is a young player, with a lot of potential. It is natural that given what has been his growth throughout this season and also a lot as a result of the performance he has had in the Champions League games. It is natural that he arouses the interest of the big European clubs.
“In what is my day-to-day with the player, in what is given to us to observe in training and in the game, naturally we are here before a different player and all the different players arouse the interest of the big European clubs. Darwin is on that lot, obviously.”
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