Fans will differ on whether they believe that the club exists to win certain individual awards, but we do know that, for example, Mohamed Salah is very passionate about winning the top scorer award every year, and it is probable that his mindset is reflected in the rest of the team.
As such, it is great news that the club’s record signing has already added to his own personal trophy cabinet, as Darwin Núñez was today awarded the Player of the Season award for his contribution to Benfica’s third-place finish in Portugal’s Liga Bwin.
The Uruguayan had already been given the Golden Boot and a spot on the team of the year, but the league had not yet handed out their ultimate award, and with his fiercest competitor for the prize, Luis Díaz, leaving in the middle of the season, the 23-year old was able to shore up his claim for being the best player in Portugal in 2021-22.
Expectations are high for the attacker entering his first season with the Reds given the record price tag, but he joins a team that is well-oiled and has done a great job creating high-quality opportunities for its strikers, earning four golden boots in the past five years. If Nez can find his place in the squad, there is every chance he will be challenging Salah for the award in 10 months.
