Signed: from Real Madrid in August 2004 (player exchange, part of Michael Owen deal)
Left: for Celta Vigo in July 2005 (free)
There really isn’t an awful lot to say about Antonio Nunez’s Liverpool career. It’s not that he was a bad player, or had a bad attitiude, or even really did anything wrong. He just didn’t really do anything. Ever. Aside from his goal against Chelsea in the 2005 League Cup final, there isn’t a single other memorable playing moment from his only season at Anfield.
Strictly speaking, Nunez wasn’t actually a signing, more a ‘free gift’ like the stickers you used to get with ‘Shoot.’ Real Madrid paid £8 million plus the Spanish right-winger for Michael Owen, and Kopites rightly felt ripped off. Yes, he only had one year left on his contract, but such a low fee for such a prolific goalscorer? Although, maybe Nunez’s ability made up for it? Not quite…
Nunez injured himself in his first day of training with Liverpool, and was out until the end of November. How different things might have been, as fellow new signing Luis Garcia was the only player with adequate experience playing on the right. But Benitez also chose to look at Steven Gerrard and Florent Sinama-Pongolle in that position, partly down to this lack of options. If Nunez had been fit these first few months, it is likely he would have been heavily involved in the first team.
After making his debut, as mentioned, he struggled to have any kind of impact. He was, at least, a traditional wide man, and was always willing to try to take on his man, even if more often than not he would just run into their back as they eased him off the ball. He, like Josemi, didn’t adapt well to the physical side. He did, however, take a Champions League winners’ medal back to Spain with him (he was on the bench in the final), and his goal against Chelsea in the 3-2 League Cup final defeat meant he was the only player in the history of the club to score his only goal in a major cup final.
Verdict: a definite MISS, which is a bit harsh as he didn’t do a lot wrong. He didn’t do much right either though.
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The fact that he is currently playing in the cyprus league says enough. He was a definate miss without a shadow of a doubt.