Darwin, the boy who fled from hunger and thought about giving up at 16, goes to the World Cup

Jürgen Klopp laughed when he heard criticism of Darwin Núñez, who could prove to be the most expensive signing in Liverpool’s history. The 23-year-old striker could cost 100 million euros (R$507.5 million at current prices), depending on goals achieved.

“We live in a world where people are judged at first sight,” commented the German coach.

Darwin has only one goal scored this season so far. He was sent off for headbutting a rival in a match against Crystal Palace.

“People who doubt him always regret it. And this year there will still be a World Cup to prove it for the Uruguayan national team”, says Jose Perdomo, el Chueco, a former Uruguayan midfielder, responsible for taking the boy, then 14, from the poor town of Artigas to try it out at Peñarol, one of the two great teams in the country.

With Luis Suárez as his career descendant and in a World Cup without Óscar Tabárez at the helm for the first time since 2002, Uruguay will depend on goals from Darwin Gabriel Núñez Ribeiro, the top scorer who fled hunger, was out for almost a year 16 with a knee injury, he overcame the temptation to abandon his career and became one of the top scorers in European football.

“He’s a real centre-forward,” praised Klopp as he took him from Benfica to Liverpool.

The city where he was born is a tribute to José Gervasio Artigas, military, politician and statesman, the greatest name in the history of Uruguay. Something Darwin didn’t know as a child. He was too worried about whether he would have anything to eat at night.

“I happened to go to bed with an empty stomach. But the one who most often went to bed without eating was my mother. Her priority was that my brother and I had something to eat before the others. That’s why I can never forget where I came from.” “, said the attacker.

His father, Bibiano Núñez, worked in construction when there was a job. Her mother, Silvia Ribeiro, collected cans and bottles to sell, thus guaranteeing the income to buy food and feed her children.

Darwin was discovered by Perdomo when he was 13 years old in a “baby soccer” match, an adaptation of small-field soccer for children and teenagers. He was taken to Peñarol, where his brother Junior was already there. The boy did not stay and returned to Artigas. The following year, the team from the capital sought him out again, and he decided to try again.

“I had incredible confidence, and things were happening for me. I felt very good”, he recalled, in an interview with the newspaper “El Observador”.

In a youth game, at age 16, when he was being considered for promotion to the professionals, he tore a cruciate ligament in his knee. He thought about quitting football, returning to Artigas for good. He was convinced by his brother that this should not happen. Junior abandoned his career to stay with his parents.

Darwin Núñez didn’t play football for a year and a half. When he came back, he was promoted to pro, but he wasn’t feeling well, something was wrong. He debuted in a confrontation with River Plate, for the Uruguayan Championship. He came on during the second half, played for 27 minutes and left crying in pain. He had to undergo another surgery.

Less than a year after his first professional goal, in November 2019, he was signed by Almería, from Spain. The journey that would make him one of the most coveted center forwards in Europe began and earn a lot of money for the clubs that traded him.

Peñarol sold it for US$ 6 million (R$ 31 million at the current price) and kept 20% of the future sale. Almería released him for US$ 24 million with Benfica (R$ 124 million) in September 2020, the most expensive transaction in the history of a team that was in the Spanish second division.

“He is an above-average player,” praised Pedro Emmanuel, who was Spain’s coach. “It’s no surprise to me that he’s at Liverpool.”

The challenge for Darwin will also be to be the focal point of Uruguay’s attack at the World Cup in Qatar. As of 2010, the selection has always passed the group stage. That year, in South Africa, he reached the semifinals. Diego Forlán was elected the best player in the competition and one of its top scorers, with five goals.

This is the fourth in a series of ten texts about players who can surprise at the 2022 World Cup. They are published on Tuesdays.