Joe Gomez made Darwin Nunez well aware of his quality when the pair first chatted at Liverpool.
It was during the Champions League last season that Gomez came up against the Uruguayan forward, who was enjoying a breakout campaign with Benfica. The Portuguese side secured a 3-3 draw at Anfield, with Gomez playing at right-back that evening.
Nunez scored in the pulsating fixture and left his mark on the Liverpool defender. Now, though, they are teammates after the Reds secured a potential club-record deal to bring the forward to Anfield, replacing the now-departed Sadio Mane. Gomez is buoyed by the arrival of Nunez - and made that known to his new teammate.
The Englishman said of Nunez: “He has a turn of pace! I said to him as soon as I saw him in the physio room ‘you gave me a hard time!’. He is obviously a great player and like the rest of the new signings brings more youth into the team and more longevity. It’s exciting times and it is a big statement from the club to make such a big signing on top of the strength we already have.”
Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsey have also made moves to Anfield as the Reds look to build on a season that saw them claim two pieces of silverware. Nunez will be crucial in the campaign to come, especially as the Reds have seen Mane, Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi leave the club.
Jurgen Klopp was forced to defend his new signing after he missed a gilt-edged opportunity in a pre-season defeat by Manchester United. The Liverpool boss was not concerned by the attention it gathered, instead highlighting the qualities of his new arrival.
Have Your Say! Would Nunez be a success at Liverpool? Tell us what you think here!
"I'm not worried at all," Klopp said. "The general judgement [on Nunez] is absolutely nil interest [to us]. It will be like this, and we all know it. It's kind of a game or a joke for some people to pick out some situations where a player's not doing well. That's only a game from [fans of] other clubs, which is normal."
He added: "The only real important thing is how I judge the situation for the player and I couldn't be more calm. [I am] completely convinced about his potential."
The Liverpool boss has also been boosted by Gomez's decision to sign a new deal which will keep him at Anfield until 2027. Aston Villa were keen but the player has chosen to stay put, stating: "It is an unbelievable place to be; in my eyes, probably one of the best - if not the best - clubs in the world at the minute. The opportunity to extend my stay here was an easy decision to make, really."
