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

Marcelino Nunez sits in the empty Portman Road, anticipating a drastically different scene when he crosses the border from Suffolk to Norfolk to face his former team, Norwich. Nunez, who made the historic £10m switch from Norwich to Ipswich in August, reflects on the significant challenge he overcame by helping Ipswich beat their rivals for the first time in 16 years with a 3-1 win. 'It was an important challenge because Ipswich hadn't beaten Norwich in so long, and I had previously helped extend that run,' he shares with Sky Sports. 'It was a big task, but we managed to turn it around, and I was really happy about it.' Nunez's celebrations at Portman Road, where he waved a corner flag in front of jubilant Ipswich fans after coming off the bench to set up the third goal against his old club, were a testament to his elation. 'It was natural; it just came to me spontaneously,' he explains. 'In South America, when you win a big derby, you celebrate a lot, and that South American side of me came out a bit.' With the last meeting between the two teams adding extra spice to their upcoming fixture, Nunez remains unfazed by the hostility that awaits him at Carrow Road. 'In South America, the derbies, the clásicos, are more intense, with more pressure,' he notes. 'And I think that works in my favour because I've played under pressure.' Nunez, who joined Norwich from Universidad Catolica in 2022, feels well-equipped to cope with the pressure. 'I know there is going to be a bit more heat on me because of the fans and because of what happened with my transfer, but it motivates me,' he says. 'I'm motivated to face the game on Saturday.' Nunez's move to Ipswich was driven by his ambition to fight for the championship. '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 reveals. '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.' Although the move caused acrimony and angered fans of his former club, Nunez insists he bears no ill-will to Norwich. 'It was a very positive step in my career because they opened doors for me to play in Europe,' he acknowledges. However, he felt Ipswich, under Kieran McKenna, offered a better chance of achieving his ambitions. 'It wasn't a very complicated decision because my mentality is to become a champion,' he explains. 'With my previous team in Chile, I became a champion five times, and that's my mindset, to win titles.' Nunez has certainly played his part this season, bringing creativity, set-piece prowess, goal threat, and energy to the No 10 role. His importance can be seen in Ipswich's record with and without him, with a win rate of 70 per cent in the 20 games he has started this season compared to just 32 per cent in the 24 he hasn't. 'I am just a small piece of the puzzle,' he humbly notes. 'I think we are all important in the team, those who play and even those who are injured.' Nunez credits McKenna for his impact, praising the coach's ability to organise training sessions, keep the dressing room united, and give players confidence. 'He is one of the best coaches I've had in my career up until now,' he says. With seven remaining Championship games, including the upcoming match against Norwich, Nunez remains relaxed about Ipswich's promotion prospects. Reaching the Premier League, he says, would allow him to realise a childhood dream. 'I always dreamt about it, but I never imagined going to England would happen so quickly and being a step away from the Premier League,' he shares. 'It's something incredible that's happening, and it's close, so we just have to focus on each match.'