LIVERPOOL saved a whopping £13MILLION thanks to a genius business decision regarding Darwin Nunez.
Nunez, 25, joined the Reds from Benfica in 2022 following a huge deal that was expected to reach a club record £84million due to a series of clauses involved.
According to A Bola, however, that price will never be met after manager Arne Slot opted against starting the striker in the Merseysiders’ final match of the season.
Liverpool drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace in the Premier League at Anfield two weeks ago – on the same day they lifted the title in front of the Kop.
And Slot decided to bench Nunez in favour of Luis Diaz, who played as a false nine against Palace.
A Bola report Benfica won’t be receiving one of the clause payments which were agreed three years ago.
The Portuguese giants were set for a major cash windfall worth £13m that would have been triggered if the Uruguay international had started just one more Premier League or Champions League game.
However, the centre-forward instead came on as a second-half substitute against the Eagles.
Ultimately, Nunez cost the Premier League champions a total of £71m.
That means the Uruguayan is no longer Liverpool‘s most expensive signing of all time.
BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS
That honour returns to captain Virgil van Dijk, who cost a staggering £75m in 2018 following his move from Southampton.
Nunez has so far failed to live up to expectations at Anfield as he has only managed a total of 40 goals and 26 assists in 143 appearances since his arrival three years ago.
The forward registered seven goals and seven assists in 47 appearances across all competitions this season.
This continues to cast doubt over his future at Liverpool, even though his contract runs out in 2028.
