Benfica striker Darwin Nunez missed Uruguay‘s international friendly with Panama on Saturday evening, amidst rumours of an agreed move to Liverpool this summer.
It was reported on Thursday that Liverpool had agreed a €100m (£86m) deal with the Portuguese side for Nunez’s signature, despite apparent interest from rivals Manchester United as well.
However, the Red Devils are said to have pulled out of the race in order to prioritise the signing of a central midfielder, before Nunez reportedly informed his friends that he is set to make the move to Anfield ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.
The 22-year-old is currently away on international duty with Uruguay, and featured in the South American nation’s international friendly fixtures against Mexico and the USA over the past week.
However, his country confirmed that they had left him out of the squad for Saturday’s 5-0 victory over Panama, with reports suggesting that Nunez was completing his Liverpool medical instead.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed the news, and also suggested that the move will be completed in the coming days, with the striker’s representatives set to make the journey to England to complete the transfer.
Tweeting from his official Twitter account on Saturday, Romano said: “Uruguay confirm that Darwin Núñez has been left out of the team for tonight game. No risk as he’s set to complete his move to Liverpool in the next days.
“Darwin and his agents are planning for travel to England after verbal agreement between Liverpool and Benfica.”
With no Luis Suarez in the Uruguay squad either, Edinson Cavani netted a brace in Montevideo on Saturday, with Nicolas de la Cruz, Maxi Gomez and Diego Rossi scoring three further goals during the rout against Panama.
