With new Liverpool signing Victor Muñoz on duty with the Spanish national team at the World Cup but sidelined with a calf strain expected to keep him out until the knockout rounds, the 22-year-old winger hasn’t exactly been front and centre since completing his £34.5M move.
That deal made the Barcelona-born winger the first signing for new head coach Andoni Iraola, and speaking to Cadena Ser this week he said the new Liverpool boss played a key role in his quick decision to reject a Newcastle move
that was in the works and choose Anfield instead.
“It’s the sort of opportunity you can’t pass up,” Muñoz noted. “I’d been focused on the World Cup and didn’t want to hear about my future unless it was concrete, and [Iraola] instilled confidence in me, showed me how his teams play. It played an important role in my decision.”
In the immediate future, though, Muñoz is focused on regaining fitness and hoping he will still get a chance to play a role in a deep run for a Spanish side most had as co-favourites with France heading into the tournament before a shock nil-nil opening game draw with Curacao.
“We were managing [the injury] and were trying to get back on the field as quickly as possible but I felt some discomfort,” he added. “These have been difficult moments because this is my childhood dream, and seeing it maybe fall apart because of an injury is frustrating.”
