Benfica president Rui Costa believes the sale of striker Darwin Nunez to Liverpool is a decision that is more than 'justified' due to the finances involved in the deal.
Nunez swapped the beaches of Lisbon for the docklands of Liverpool in the summer transfer window in a deal worth potentially £85million, which would surpass the club record £75m paid to Southampton for Virgil van Dijk in 2018.
The Reds paid a fee of £64m up front to sign the Uruguayan, but so far he has struggled to prove he was worth such a big fee.
Despite scoring the winning goal in the Community Shield against Manchester City and on his Premier League debut against Fulham, Nunez has not experienced many highs in a Liverpool shirt so far as he has spent three games suspended for head-butting Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen, before making his return in the 0-0 draw against Everton.
Nunez was also unable to find the net against Napoli in the Champions League as Liverpool were thrashed 4-1 in Naples.
However during his time at Benfica, the 23-year-old was one of the most prolific forwards in Europe last season as he netted 32 goals in only 40 appearances in all competitions, including two against the Reds in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Costa has defended the decision to sell Nunez as he believes the finances involved in the deal will help the club in the football market going forward as they have previously struggled due to the pandemic.
He told BTV: 'We are talking about one of the highest transfers of the market. We are still coming out of a pandemic situation, which held back the football market. Making a sale of €75+€25m is not open to discussion.
'The sale of Darwin is more than justified. There weren't even conditions to keep him, it was completely impossible, for the values that came into the club and for what Darwin went on to earn.'
Since selling Nunez, Benfica have started the new season in good form, winning all six of their Liga Portugal games and their Champions League group stage opener against Maccabi Haifa.
Verissimo3
0
Benfica have signed Neres, Julian Draxler amoung a few other players with a total of under 30 mil euros. Benfica are looking quite strong this season considering they haven’t spent much money
Verissimo3
0
Still wishes he stayed at Benfica but Benfica had to sell him… eventually he would’ve left Benfica
huhcdelns
2
the same people who are saying we should have kept Sadio are the same who complained when we sold Torres and bought Suarez on for him to prove them wrong. Dawin Nunez will silence the critics soon.
DavidDaevchinyama
1
Liverpool would have bought Nunez for less but I don't know who's in charge of the transfers🤦
NagaManu
0
Lol as much I hate benfica, benfica is not a small club. What benfica and the other clubs don't have is oil money.
LoL 😆 bro that's why I used the word "so called" 😌
D-BLUNT
0
Haaland; wtf came up with the idea of comparing me to this guy
Musuarez
5
our time will come up
XxKingCR7xX
0
So called small clubs only ambition is to developed young players and sold for hefty price... 🔥😎
Lol as much I hate benfica, benfica is not a small club. What benfica and the other clubs don't have is oil money.
laobekps
3
Liverpool would have kept Sadio Mane than Buying Darwin Nunez
RaghibMustafa
1
Haaland be like " don't understand why they comparing me with Nunez"
Nocainou
1
let's kill him
N0_N0NsENSE
0
Football is just business for the clubs after all. Why would they refuse such a huge amount?
GideonAT
0
Rejecting 90mil is completely impossible
emmaunited
3
they are two different leagues entirely. some players come and adapt fast, while some gradually gain momentum. I believe Nunez will be a great signing for Liverpool Fc.
Jusgradave
0
Keeping nunez from haaland’s shadow is impossible
sunnysayus
4
It was the combination of money and desire.He got his wish and Liverpool got their man.Benfica got the money.
NagaManu
3
So called small clubs only ambition is to developed young players and sold for hefty price... 🔥😎