Luis Suarez has shared the emotional story of how Darwin Nunez broke down in tears following a stern half-time dressing down from Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa during their World Cup qualifier against Argentina last November at La Bombonera, Buenos Aires.
Nunez had been named in the starting lineup for the match, but after a lackluster first-half performance, Bielsa’s strong words during the interval led to an emotional response from the young forward.
Nunez, visibly upset, was consoled by Suarez, a former Liverpool star himself.
However, the dressing room moment fueled Nunez’s resolve.
In the second half, he scored a crucial late goal to seal a famous 2-0 victory for Uruguay.
Nunez’s immediate reaction after scoring was to run straight into the arms of Suarez to celebrate.
Speaking on the DirecTV show De Futbol Se Habla Asi, Suarez opened up about the incident, expressing his concerns about Bielsa’s tough approach towards some of Uruguay’s players.
He also highlighting the positive response it sparked in Nunez during the memorable match.
“I saw Darwin crying and I told him ‘You are here on merit, because of how hard you work, you are a goalscorer and you are the best. You have to continue like this, forget what others say. Wipe your face, go out and do it’,” said Luis Suarez.
“That is why when he scored the goal I was the first one he greeted.
“For me Darwin needs affection, to be supported and to feel involved, not other things.
“I ran into the coach in the hallway and he told me ‘We are not helping him with those things’.
“I was taken aback, and I told him that I had to support him.
“After the victory, Bielsa greeted me and said ‘Do you know what happens if I don’t talk to him like that…
“You saw what he ran in the second half’.
“And I told him my part was to encourage him.”
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