Liverpool has just signed another Anthony Gordon - and Andoni Iraola is perfect for him
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And Victor Munoz certainly came out of the blue when he emerged as a Liverpool target earlier this week.Munoz, 22, arrives from Osasuna as a senior Spanish international, but few will know much about him. Within 24 hours of news emerging that the Reds wanted him, the deal was publicly confirmed."Munoz is a bit of a throwback," Spanish soccer writer Matthew Clark tells Liverpool.com."An old-school, classical winger, he likes nothing more than to go at his marker, beat them, and get a cross in or get a shot away.
He excites fans with his rapid speed, directness and willingness to keep going."The fact that Newcastle were so strongly linked with him before the Liverpool hijack gives a strong clue that he shares a lot of characteristics with Anthony Gordon."Liverpool themselves had been linked with Gordon before he made the big-money move to Barcelona this summer, and Munoz will offer a lot of what Gordon’s game is all about. While Munoz is raw, he has pace and directness — exactly what Liverpool lacked last term."His rise in the last year or so has been pretty meteoric and caught many of us by surprise," Clark admits.
"From a bit-part squad player in the Club World Cup under Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, Munoz enjoyed a breakout season at El Sadar with Osasuna."As the season progressed, his performances made headlines, and he was noticed by more and more people. His inclusion in the Spain squad is a recognition of that impressive campaign, and his wildcard factor in what is a settled squad, and I hope Luis de la Fuente gives him the opportunity to showcase this on the world stage."Leaving Spain for the first time, Munoz will link up with Andoni Iraola, his fellow countryman, who was very keen to bring the forward to Anfield.Victor Munoz during a Spain training session at the World Cup.(Image: Pablo Garcia/Soccrates/Getty Images)"As we have seen at Bournemouth since then, Iraola likes energy and intensity in his football, and Munoz epitomizes that — high energy, front-footed football, with pace and direct attacking play to excite fans and produce a high volume of chances," Clark says."The fact they are both new to the club and Spanish will help with his integration.