Chilean midfielder Marcelino Nunez has been a bright spark for Norwich City in the three seasons since their relegation from the Premier League, standing out at a time when the Canaries have largely stood still.
The Tractor Boys are flush after their one-season stint in the Premier League. Parachute payments combined with the sales of Liam Delap, Omari Hutchinson and Nathan Broadhead for a combined £82.5m have allowed Kieran McKenna to reshape his squad.
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Objectively, it’s good business for Norwich given that Nunez rejected two offers to extend his deal and is currently nursing an ankle knock after missing a chunk of last season due to various injuries.
However, you can forgive Norwich fans for not seeing it that way. One fan wrote on X that he hoped Nunez “steps barefoot onto Lego”. Most other comments were less PG.
Crossing the Norfolk-Suffolk divide practically never happens. Ian Crook trod that path in 1996, but famously performed a U-turn and immediately rejoined Norwich, despite being paraded to the media as an Ipswich player.
That same summer, another English free agent made a similarly unpopular decision with goalkeeper Andy Marshall signing for Ipswich from Norwich.
“He is still not looked upon fondly in Norfolk,” Reeve says of Marshall. “And Nunez has a far higher calibre.”
“I’ve never seen such a response from Norwich fans. Lots of people are upset with Nunez. Lots of people are upset with Norwich City Football Club,” Butler said on the programme.
“Norwich are helping another team in the Championship and their nearest rivals and I don’t think that will ever go down well. It would be the same if Everton sold a player to Liverpool or Arsenal sold a player to Tottenham.”
NORWICH GO AHEAD AGAINST IPSWICH!MARCELINO NUNEZ WITH A FREE KICK FROM MILES OUT! pic.twitter.com/r07HOj2k3q
— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) April 6, 2024Blame is being apportioned with US-based owner Michael Attanasio, who only completed his majority takeover from celebrity chef Delia Smith and her husband Michael Wynn-Jones in March, and sporting director Ben Knapper bearing the brunt of the frustration.
“You simply cannot sell to Ipswich. They are a direct league rival, but more importantly, they are Ipswich.”
Football fans are predisposed to gloat when times are good for them and bad for their neighbours. This transfer handily achieves both at once for those of a blue persuasion.
Beyond the bragging rights, it is a potentially shrewd deal that can reinvigorate McKenna’s new-look midfield.
Sam Morsy and Massimo Luongo were pillars of the side that achieved back-to-back promotions, but both left for free this summer, while loanee Kalvin Phillips returned to Manchester City.
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“Certainly, in midfield, Ipswich haven’t really got things worked out yet. He’s someone who can look after the ball and even add a bit of flair further up the pitch and if he stays fit, he can do a really good job for Ipswich.”
The key dates for both sets of supporters this season are Friday 5 October and Saturday 11 April. Nunez may not be fit enough to play in the first meeting at Portman Road. He may feel inclined to get a sick note for the second one too.
“That game doesn’t need any extra spice added to it. It is going to be feral!”
That was the defining moment of his Norwich career. Until now.
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