Marcelino Nunez – Universidad Catolica’s midfield maestro

Marcelino Nunez’ game is about being in the right place at the right time with the collaboration of skill and opportunity to create luck. His life has been about similar things as his father worked a minimum wage job in Chile. One day his father took him out of school to take him to youth training for Universidad Catolica as they found two women stranded on the street with a flat tire on their car as Marcelino’s Dad changed their tire for them. One of the women was a producer for an international program that demolished and rebuilt people’s houses as Nunez’ house would eventually be demolished and rebuilt. The 21-year-old has an immense faith in religion which carries him through difficult times while allowing him to remain humble during better days.

Nunez has become one of the better players for one of the biggest and most successful teams in Chile while also being selected in the squad for Chile’s squad for the most recent Copa America even though he did not feature in any of the games. The 21-year-old is also married as he has not had the time to find a place to live for him and his wife due to the pandemic, so he still lives at home with his parents and his wife under the same roof. He has been touted for big things by former Universidad Catolica Head Coach, Ariel Holan as despite being one of the most intriguing creative midfield prospects in Chile, he has been willing to play at fullback under Holan and current coach, Gus Poyet. His constant work rate is another intriguing aspect of his game as it meshes with his intelligence and creative abilities.

The Universidad Catolica fans joke that Nunez runs home after games which has an element of truth as the 21-year-old does love to run for exercise. He has built strong relationships with fellow youth products in Ignacio Saavedra as well as Clement Montes as well as with coaches due to his willingness to take instruction and play in a variety of roles to help his team. He has played as a fullback and as the deepest-lying midfielder as since he suffered a stress fracture in his back as 17-year-old which forced him out for six months, he made a promise to himself to become the best box-to-box midfielder in Chile. He regularly seeks insight from Poyet on his game while engaging with his more experienced teammates to correct his mistakes. He has overcome injury issues as his mentality and willingness to improve should make him a highly sought-after midfielder in the coming months. He is a lanky midfielder who loves to receive possession in between the lines and connect play in the final third, passing and moving in between the central areas and half-spaces, orchestrating attacking moves.

Last year in an away match in the Copa Sudamericana against Uruguayan side River Plate in the Round of 16, Nunez was press resistant and imperious. He dropped into the right-back role to receive possession and connect play, consistently passing with the outside of his boot before moving into the midfield line. He received possession at the edge of his own box before facilitating a switch to Fernando Zampedri by Luciano Aued for the Argentine striker to have a shot cannon off the post. He proved to be good at holding the ball and driving possession forward before working passes and moving into space in between the lines to receive possession. He tried a number of through balls into the channels for teammates before having a strike from range saved by the keeper.

Him and his side returned to South American continental football this season as in a home match against another Uruguayan side, Nacional, Nunez put in a stellar performance. The 21-year-old loves to make runs into the right half-space to receive possession and connect play as he used this sequence of movement to receive possession in between the lines and drive the ball forward to thread a pass past two opposition midfielders to his striker in the nine-space. The midfield maestro would receive possession in the right half-space again to work a one-two with a teammate to receive possession in space as he allowed the ball to roll across his body to control the pass with his left foot before switching an accurate ball to the opposite flank. Nunez is tailor-made for positional play sequences as he thrives in receiving possession in between the lines, especially in the left half-space as his blind-sided movement is impeccable, subtly side-stepping into space at the perfect moment to receive possession as he has a fantastic range of passing as well as a penchant for through balls and progressive passes.

He also has a toolbox of elaborate feints to buy himself a yard of space as well as terrific close control to weave out of congested situations as the midfielder would receive possession in the ten-space from the left to allow the ball to roll across his body but take his first touch with the outside of his right boot to feint past his marker and send a strike from range straight at the keeper. The Chilean would then receive possession from a throw-in to play another phenomenal switch ball for a teammate in the box as he adds guile and invention when he is operating in between the lines. To watch Nunez, is to watch a midfielder who is constantly scanning as well as making subtle movements into space behind the opposition midfield to receive possession and create better passing opportunities for his teammates. He received possession in the eight space with two opposition players marking him for the 21-year-old to scan as an opposition player behind him was pushing up to mark him before he received possession on his left foot to spin away from pressure, as he shifted the ball to his right foot in order to cut back and poke a pass to a teammate in space.

His ability to receive possession in tight areas, by turning and swivelling to allow the ball to roll across his body to use his lanky physique to shield the ball while being able to twist and turn quickly allows him to be a press resistant midfielder. These manoeuvres also help him in the final third and in between the lines as he received possession in the left channel from a throw-in to have a measured first touch with three markers behind him to fake like he was going to cut back before driving to the by-line instead, leaving his closest marker out of balance before facing him 1v1 to cut-back a pass to a teammate at the top of the box who was fouled and won a free-kick. His blind-sided movement and connections will then prove crucial in allowing his side to create a high-quality opportunities as his right-sided centre-back would receive possession and work a ball to the right-back with Nunez positioned in the half-space.

Nunez would scan to see a marker behind him rendering him unable to drop deep to receive possession so he made a run into the channel with his winger dropping deep to receive possession, while Nunez held his position in the half-space to scan as a midfielder in his vertical zone pushed up to press creating a pocket of space for Nunez. The 22-year-old moved into the right half-space to take a touch and lay-off a pass to the winger who moved into the central areas as the winger spread the ball to the overlapping fullback to cross for the winger who continued his run to the near post to mis-kick his opportunity. Nunez’ movement and occupation of space disoriented the whole opposition defensive unit as once he received the ball in the half-space, the opposition fullback pushed up to close him down which created space for the overlapping fullback forcing the ball-near centre-back to vacate his space which created the space for the winger to run into for the cross.

He would utilize his movement, scanning and occupation of space once more, this time for press resistant measures as by the time his right-back received possession, he was marked by two players in the eight space. His winger would drop deep to receive possession with one of his markers pushing up to press the fullback as that opened a pocket of space behind Nunez as the 21-year-old Chilean would move into the space to stop his feet then make a run in behind his marker in the channels to receive possession while evading his marker before switching the ball to the attacker on the opposite flank. His movement and timing in between the lines allowed his team to evade pressure and create an attacking opportunity as his intelligence in between the lines is high-level due to a career of using more experienced players and manager’s know-how of how to occupy space and move.

He can not only beat pressure and break lines with his movement and ability to receive possession but also with his distribution as he received possession to work a pass for a teammate in between the lines and continue his run for his teammate to play a lay-off behind him. Nunez is a positional-play player because of his ability to move and occupy space but also because of his ability to link play in between the lines with his well-cushioned first touch and delicate passing connections. Against Nacional, he would have a sequence where he would receive possession in the right half-space with a marker behind him to work a one-two with his right back to elegantly move into space in between the lines and play a reverse pass to the flank with his left foot for the winger to work a connection with the fullback who made a run into the half-space. High level midfield orchestrators have the intelligence to move and work combinations to allow their teams to be smoother in possession as Nunez has this ability due to the fact that his team operate in a 4-1-4-1 shape with no discernible playmaker.

He continued to work passing interchanges in between the lines to allow his team to facilitate transition and the creation of opportunities in the final third as he received possession in between the lines to spread the ball to the right flank before receiving possession in the right half-space before threading a pass to a teammate in the ten-space to facilitate a switch that led to a crossing opportunity. From a physicality stand point, he is resolute when holding possession in between the lines, gliding past players while having the vision to thread passes for runners in the channels. The 21-year-old would receive possession in the eight space from the right-flank by allowing possession to run across his body to hold off a marker to drive the ball into the opposition half to attract markers before elegantly sliding a pass into the channels for his team to have a high-quality opportunity from a cross. The 21-year-old would then receive possession in the ten space, an area he normally occupies, to thread another beautiful pass to the left flank for another crossing opportunity.

In a 3-1 victory, Nunez would get an assist for the third goal in emphatic and elegant fashion as he won an interception during the pressing phase in the right channel to skip past his first marker and drive into the centre of the pitch with acres of space ahead of him, nonchalantly galloping in between two opposition defenders to attract markers as he drove to the edge of the opposition pass to work a pass for his good friend Montes to hammer home from inside the box. This was testament to Nunez’ fitness and running as this moment occurred deep in added time as the opposition defence were heavy legged as Nunez was still in peak physical condition.

Away to Union Espanola in the Chilean Primera Division, he would be involved in the creation of a high-quality opportunity again, receiving possession in the ten space to drive the ball backwards with his first touch before swivelling and threading a pass to a teammate in space in between the lines for the attacker to poke a pass in between the lines for the striker who was unable to control the ball. He would then attempt a high-quality opportunity of his own in a move similar to his assist against Nacional, receiving possession in the right half-space, shielding the ball from a sliding tackle from an opposition midfielder before cutting past another midfielder to lob an impudent pass in behind for a striker who was unable to get a shot away. He would have another of his press resistant moments, receiving possession from Saavedra in the eight space by moving in front his marker to receive the pass, to flick the ball past his marker with his weaker left foot before spinning and working a pass to the flank past a sliding defender.

Nunez’ importance to his side is illustrated by the fact that without him, his team struggle in transition while also struggling to create opportunities, as he may not have a high number of assists, but he is extremely crucial to his side creating opportunities. Against Palmeiras in the knockout phase, his team were without him as he had recently returned from Chile’s Copa America campaign as Saavedra was unable to be penetrative with his distribution due to the space Nunez occupies in between the lines not being available while his movement, ability to add cohesion with his passing and occupying of space as well as his creativity were dearly missed as Poyet’s side dominated possession but were unable to create opportunities.

Nunez is one of the more technically refined creative box-to-box midfielders in South American football as away to Antofagasta, he regained possession to work a connection and drive the ball forward to lob a pass for Diego Valencia in behind the opposition defence. He continued to make blind-sided movements to receive possession in space, constantly demanding possession in tight areas while acting as a central passing conduit for players in the wide areas. He always positions himself in space to receive possession in dangerous areas as he received possession in between the lines with two players marking him, swivelling away from both of them to work a one-two before stretching the pitch and spreading play to the opposite flank. Saavedra played a pass for Nunez to switch possession before making a run into the channels to receive possession to lob a cross for Felipe Gutierrez to smash over an opportunity.

Nunez proved not only to be integral to his team with possession as he also made clever interceptions in midfield while looking to lob passes in behind for teammates as he misplaced a few of these lobs. He would find a teammate with another of these lobs but would frustratingly lose possession by attempting spectacular passes. He thrived in working one-twos before dropping into space to receive possession as he spent most of the second-half in the ten-space which limited his influence on the game. This proved to not be one of Nunez’ better games as his floor is being an attacking conduit in the opposition half while creating opportunities in the final third as he still manages to be crucial to his team in his lesser games. He still managed to receive possession in tight spaces as his movement in between the lines was a joy to watch as in one sequence, he received possession in between the lines to lay-off to his fullback before receiving possession again to swivel and mis-place a pass into the channels.

He then lost possession trying to swivel out of a congested area with another inaccurate pass but regained possession immediately to work a one-two as he had an attempt to curl a delivery into the box blocked before threading a pass in between the lines with the outside of his boot. He would have another pass intercepted before being substituted after receiving a yellow for a petulant foul on an opposition player. Three days later, in one of the biggest games of the Chilean Primera Division away to Universidad de Chile, the 21-year-old had a much better outing. He regained possession from Marcelo Morales to cut inside and play a back-pass before moving into the right half-space to receive possession to turn and thread a pass into the next line for a teammate to work a pass into the nine-space for a shooting opportunity.

Nunez’ style of play is very high risk for a deeper-lying player but also has the possibility for high reward as he had two passes intercepted but responded by lobbing a pass over pressure before threading a lovely little pass to start a counter-attacking move. He then moved into the ten space to receive possession for the young midfielder to turn and work a pass into the right half-space for an inverted fullback to have a shot blocked. His first touches in tight spaces are phenomenal as he received possession from the left flank to flick a pass to a teammate. Nunez would notch an assist in the game as he was played through in the channels to expertly curl a cross into the path of Zampedri to tap in and level the scores at 1-1. He followed his assist with another shot creation action when he received possession in between the lines to poke a pass to the nine-space for the striker to have a shot blocked from the top of the box. He would miss an amazing chance to put his side in the lead when he made a brilliant run past Zampedri to receive a flick-on behind the opposition defence as he was unable to get a proper purchase on the strike to send the shot high and wide from inside the box. The 21-year-old would finish the game with 5 chances created, 5 crosses with 2 on target as well as 2 tackles and 10 ball recoveries.

Nunez’ ability as a connective press resistant player in midfield sets him apart from other midfielders as he can receive possession in the half-spaces, eight-space and ten-space to string passes together and create opportunities. He may not be the player playing the assist, but he will be the player with the crucial pass, feint or connection to evade pressure to create space for a teammate to create an opportunity. In the final third, he acts as a conduit in deconstructing low blocks by occupying space, making clever movements and receiving the ball in tight areas to draw markers and create space for teammates. Out of possession, he has the ability to make interceptions and tackles to regain possession before using the disorganisation of the opposition to create opportunities. In certain build-up situations, Nunez can be too reliant on laying off possession and moving into space to receive possession as he will need to develop his understanding of when to turn and when to work a progressive or lateral pass on the half-turn. He will also need to improve his finishing as he constantly makes runs off the centre-forward into the box as his manipulation of space in the box will see him in many high-quality positions as his finishing is the most lacking aspect of his game. If he improves his finishing, with his ability to make runs into the box, he could be one of the more well-rounded box-to-box midfielders in world football.

Nunez has been called up to the Chilean National Team while also accruing minutes in the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana which could see him gain a work permit for an English club. Norwich City, Leeds United and Arsenal could use a creative midfielder of his ilk who can manipulate space in the final third and add press resistance and creativity from deep. Nunez has spoken of his desire to move to Europe as he highlighted Sevilla and Bayer Leverkusen due to Arturo Vidal beginning his European career with the club. Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio would also be a good club for him to join as Nunez was born to play in a 4-3-3 while Vincenzo Italiano’s Fiorentina would also be an option. Most La Liga and Ligue 1 clubs could use a player of his ilk as Nunez could prove to be inexpensive due to his contract expiring in December 2022 which could see him sold for a sub €8 million price point. Nunez could be one of the more illuminating bargains on the market.