Why Thiago is 'jealous' of Darwin Nunez

Tom Weber

• Updated: 12 Apr 2023 14:30 BST
• 3 min read

Liverpool star Thiago has admitted that he is jealous of teammate Darwin Nunez.

Nunez has found his first season at Anfield tough going, failing to live up to his €80 million price tag thus far. Indeed, the 23-year-old has become more known for squandering big chances than converting them, though it must be said that 14 goals from 36 games across all competitions is far from a terrible return.

Thiago Alcantara has similarly struggled this season, but for different reasons. After a good run of form after the World Cup, his persistent fitness issues flared up again, sideling the Spanish midfield maestro for Liverpool's crucial Champions League and Premier League fixtures. Without his classy presence in the centre of the park, the Reds slumped out of the Champions League and saw their hopes of getting into the top four slip away.

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Thiago made his return in Liverpool's thrilling 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the weekend, and the 32-year-old has revealed why he is jealous of his more attacking teammate Nunez.

What did Thiago say?

"When you are into the game, when you are living the game, you just react," Thiago told Liverpool's Walk On magazine. "You cannot think too much, but running is not my thing. My thing is about making the team play slow or fast when we have to."

"For the best players in the world - and I don't have this - it is about trying to score 40 goals a season. I say to Darwin [Nunez], I never have had the feeling in my life to shoot the ball 30 metres in front of me and say I will win this race to get it." Indeed, admits Thiago, "I feel jealous sometimes of that, for sure. But this is life, we always want what we don't have."

READ: Premier League's quickest player: Mudryk and Nunez beaten by €46m-rated star

Thiago is right to be envious of Nunez's speed because, as was revealed last month, the Uruguayan is the fourth-fastest player in the Premier League.