When we think of Liverpool players who featured in the 2005 Champions League title campaign, many stars will come to mind, but not often Antonio Núnez.
The winger joined the Reds as part of the deal with Real Madrid for the transfer of Michael Owen in 2004, and only stayed at Anfield for a year.
He spent the first part of the season injured, and had five appearances in the Champions League’s knock-out stage, despite not being used in the final.
Interviewed by Spanish outlet AS today, Núnez recalled all of his career, and answered a couple of questions about his campaign with Liverpool that year, and why he couldn’t secure a long term role for himself with the club.
First asked about how he ended up leaving Real Madrid for Liverpool, he said: “Camacho didn’t want to count on me and had an offer from Mallorca and it seemed closed. The possibility of Liverpool came up because they wanted me as a bargaining chip for Owen. When my representative told me, I didn’t believe it. It was to leave Madrid, but go to a big one like Liverpool.”
Then he recalled his year with the Reds: “I wasn’t lucky because I got injured in the second training session and I was out for four months. I had a hard time picking up the pace. Benítez gave me many opportunities and I was able to participate in various competitions. It was an unforgettable experience, especially because of the Champions League we got against Bayern Munich.”
Regarding him being quoted as saying Bayern Munich, we’re not sure if that’s the former player forgetting that Liverpool beat Milan in the final, or if it’s AS making a mistake.
On what he took from that experience, he said: “I prefer the culture that they have in England with football, but especially with Liverpool. They have great respect for the player and for the club. The fans have a lot of respect. We had a great group and personally it was very nice.”
Núnez left Liverpool for Celta Vigo in 2005. He then played for Real Murcia, Apollon Limassol, Huesca, Deportivo La Coruña and Recreativo before retiring in 2018.
