Nunez: My Goal Was to Become a Champion, That's Why I Left Norwich for Ipswich

Sitting in the calm atmosphere of an empty Portman Road, Marcelino Nunez is aware that a vastly different scene awaits him when he crosses the border from Suffolk to Norfolk to face his former club. The player who made the switch from Norwich to Ipswich in a £10m deal last August is prepared for a heated reception at Carrow Road. Nunez became the first player to move directly from Norwich to Ipswich since Andy Marshall in 2001. Just weeks after completing the move, he scored the decisive goal in the previous East Anglian derby, which Norwich won, and later helped Ipswich secure a 3-1 victory over their rivals for the first time in 16 years. 'It was a significant challenge because Ipswich hadn't beaten Norwich in so long, and I had previously contributed to extending that run,' Nunez tells Sky Sports. 'It was a big task, but we managed to turn it around, end the run, and I was really happy about it.' His celebrations at Portman Road, waving a corner flag in front of jubilant Ipswich fans after setting up the third goal against his old club, were a testament to his joy. 'It was natural; it just came to me spontaneously,' he says, reflecting on the moment. 'In South America, when you win a big derby, you celebrate a lot, and that South American side of me came out a bit.' The events of their last meeting add an extra layer of tension to Saturday's fixture, live on Sky Sports. However, Nunez remains unfazed by the hostility that awaits him at Carrow Road. Having played in intense derbies in South America, he feels well-equipped to handle the pressure. 'In South America, the derbies, the clásicos, are more intense, with more pressure,' he explains. 'And I think that works in my favour because I've played under pressure.' Nunez's move to Ipswich was driven by his ambition to fight for the championship and potentially become a Premier League player. 'I was very clear about my goal, which was to fight for the championship, so that's why I made the decision to move to Ipswich,' he says. 'The fans welcomed me incredibly well, even though I came from a rival, and overall I'm very happy with the team and with the manager.' Ipswich, currently a point behind Millwall in third place with three games in hand, see the upcoming match as an opportunity to take another step closer to the Premier League. Nunez, who has played a crucial role in Ipswich's success this season, is confident in the team's ability to secure promotion. 'What I see in the team is that it's a very solid group,' he says. 'There are very good teammates, and the coach is one of the best I've had in my career. With the team we have, I think we will reach the Premier League. I want to experience that feeling.' First, though, he must navigate the challenging atmosphere at Carrow Road.