Darwin Nunez has confessed he wants to ‘move on’ from his struggles at Liverpool while on international duty with Uruguay.
The 25-year-old has faced a challenging season under Arne Slot, scoring just seven times in 40 matches despite Liverpool’s strong overall form.
The break arrived at a perfect time for the Uruguayan after missing a crucial penalty against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League—followed by a heartbreaking 1-2 defeat to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final.
Landing in Montevideo ahead of a tough fixture against Argentina, the Reds striker reflected on the ‘difficult weeks’ he endured recently.
‘To clear my mind from what’s happening there, and honestly, there’s nothing greater for a player than wearing his national team’s jersey,’ Nunez told El Pais.
‘I’m happy focusing on Uruguay, making the most of every second with the team—these are experiences you go through in football.’
Darwin Nunez acknowledged he wants to ‘move on’ from a rough spell after a difficult week at Liverpool.
The Uruguayan admitted he endured ‘tough weeks’ following a dip in form for the Reds.
The 25-year-old accepted his performances haven’t matched the Premier League leaders’ standards.
‘As I recently said, I’m not someone who gives up because I’m benched—I’ll keep working hard to earn my spot.’
Despite high expectations early in the season, Nunez has struggled to convince Slot, remaining an inconsistent starter.
The 25-year-old has started only eight of his 23 Premier League appearances so far.
‘I know I haven’t been playing at my best,’ he admitted. ‘It’s frustrating because when things go well—like when I came on against PSG and assisted Harvey Elliott—it boosts your confidence for the next match.
‘But then a slump hits, and I’m always trying to support my teammates when I return to the national team.’
Acknowledging his struggles compared to his attacking teammates, Nunez said: ‘The ball just won’t go in. I run a lot, play well, yet I can’t find the net.’
In February, Slot criticized Nunez’s reaction after squandering a clear chance against Aston Villa.
That match ended 2-2, and following his crucial miss, the Dutch boss expressed frustration over his apparent drop in effort afterward.
Last month, Arne Slot stated Nunez’s missed chances were ‘playing on his mind too much.’
On Friday, the 25-year-old will take on Argentina alongside his Liverpool teammate Alexis Mac Allister.
Slot insisted the striker let his disappointment get ‘too much in his head.’
Things got worse for Nunez, who had the chance to help Liverpool into the Champions League quarter-finals but missed his penalty in the shootout.
A stunned Liverpool then faced Newcastle but only found their rhythm late, with Federico Chiesa scoring in the 94th minute.
On Friday, Nunez will face Alexis Mac Allister’s Argentina, who will be without Lionel Messi due to a minor injury.
‘Mac Allister and I spoke because I told him they’d lose when Argentina played at Boca Juniors’ stadium (where Uruguay won 2-0),’ he said.
‘Now, I don’t want him looking at me in case he mocks me.’