Darwin Nunez's rise through the ranks of European football over the last couple of years has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Securing a potential club-record move to Liverpool at the age of 22 is quite the testimony to any young forward looking to hone their game on the European shores.
In fact, two years ago Nunez was learning his trade in Spain's Segunda Division as his first move to Europe saw him tasked with trying to fire UD Almeria back into La Liga. Despite being unable to deliver the dreams of the those in the south-east of Spain, his departure to one of European football's historic clubs in Benfica, after one season, amplified just how quickly people were starting to take notice of Nunez's on-field ability.
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And here the Liverpool ECHO looks at his stand-out performances that would've put Liverpool on red-hot alert ahead of the summer transfer window.
Barcelona 3-0 (H) - September 2021
Having seen his stock exponentially rise while facing Spanish opposition during the fledging stages of his career in the country's second division, when Nunez faced Barcelona in the Champions League Group Stage last season it felt like his brief career had already come full circle. Yes, Barcelona aren't the force they were, but the weight of their badge still careers unwavering amounts of history - just ask south-American-born Nunez.
His brace during the pair's first meeting of the competition paved the way for Benfica to make sizeable strides in the Champions League.
The skill on display for his first strike after just 120 seconds was majestic, and would have certainly caught the eye of any managers weighing up a move for the young forward. Picking the ball up on the left-hand side, Nunez displayed incredible footwork to perform a double step-over, earning himself two yards of space in the process, before firing past a helpless Marc-Andre ter Stegen at his near post.
Nunez's second, and Benfica's third goal of the evening, came from the penalty spot. Although there was nothing unique about the strike from 12 yards, it was another example of Nunez showing maturity beyond his years as he kept his cool, despite the VAR chaos that followed the decision, to roll the ball home and seal the two-time European champions' first win of this season's edition.
Ajax 0-1 (A) - March 2022
Having helped Benfica safely seal their passage into the competition's round of 16 stage, the Eagles were paired to face Dutch champions Ajax. On paper, it was a draw that would have probably enhanced the Portuguese sides chances of reaching the quarter-final stage, given that they could have been paired against Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City or even Chelsea in the first knockout round.
But those feelings of an easy progression would have been reciprocated in the Ajax dressing room, even if then Ajax Erik Ten Hag wouldn't dare admit it.
Having secured a 2-2 draw, even in the absence of the away goal rule, on their trip to Lisbon, Ajax welcomed Nélson Veríssimo's side to Amsterdam firmly holding the advantage.
And after conjuring up 16 shots and 10 corners in addition to their 69% possession of the ball, It seemed as if it was going to be Ajax who advanced to the latter stages of the competition.
But that was until Nunez rose highest to bullet home a fierce header with 13 minutes of play remaining at the Johan Cruyff Arena, leaving the Dutch capital shell-shocked.
It could be argued that it was perhaps his conventional No.9 qualities, mixed with his near-perfect technical skill-set, that convinced the Reds to make a move for Nunez in a bid to offer themselves something different from their current crop of forwards as shown in this true smash-and-grab display.
Liverpool 1-3 (H) - April 2022
If Liverpool fans hadn't heard of the name Darwin Nunez prior to their encounter at the Estadio da Luz in April, that was always going to change after the 90 minutes of the first leg had come to an end.
It wasn't a game that will be fondly remembered as an all-time European classic in years to come, nor will it take up many minutes on the club's end of season DVD, but Liverpool were assured, efficient and well-placed to be cruising into the final four of the competition for the third time in five seasons.
That was until Nunez pulled a goal back moments after the restart to halve the deficit for his side. It was a goal created in anticipation as he was perfectly placed to capitalise on Ibrahima Konate's momentary lapse of concentration.
From then on, having previously been penned back against Jurgen Klopp's men, Nunez's strike inspired a complete shift in mentality as Liverpool faced a brief period on the ropes - with the Uruguayan nearly adding a second to his name.
Up against Konate and Virgil van Dijk, and largely operating as an out-and-out forward on his own, the way Nunez battled with his opposite numbers on the ground and in the air was impressive.
The forward finished the evening on the losing side but still managed to star as he won 5/8 of his ground duels, four of his aerial ones, as well as completing all of his attempted dribbles.
It's no wonder the Liverpool manager couldn't resist waxing lyrical about the forward in his subsequent media duties.
Liverpool 3-3 (A) - April 2022
The final pick of Nunez's impressive individual showings during his time at Benfica comes from what would be his final appearance in the competition for the Portuguese side. Having already drawn in an mammoth amount of praise following the earlier meeting between the sides, Nunez once more upped his game for those packed inside Anfield.
Despite ending the game having been dumped out of the Champions League and only managing one goal to his name, those two pieces of information don't even begin to tell half of the story of Nunez's first Anfield experience.
There was pace, power, athleticism, aggression. A wonderfully-crafted dinked finish, albeit offside, in front of the Kop, a crisply-caught half-volley and a finish as cool as you like past Alisson Becker.
It was certainly not a timid way to bow out of Europe, and clearly not bad audition if the Reds did have any lingering doubts over his ability.
