Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has explained the decision behind his latest social media activity amid speculation over a possible summer exit from Anfield.

The Uruguay international joined the Reds from Benfica for a club-record £85m in the summer of 2022 and has since contributed with 33 goals and 17 assists in 96 appearances across all competitions.

Nunez featured regularly in Jurgen Klopp's final season in charge of Liverpool and recorded 18 goals and 13 assists in 54 games, helping the Reds with the EFL Cup and secure a third-placed finish in the 2023-24 Premier League.

However, Nunez has been criticised for his low conversion rate having been guilty of missing several chances in front of goal, which subsequently led to the striker losing his regular starting spot during the final few weeks of the season.

Earlier this month, Nunez surprisingly removed all of his Liverpool-related posts from his Instagram account at a time when he was linked with a potential move to Barcelona.

However, Nunez has now confirmed that the reason behind the deletions of those Instagram posts is not transfer-related and was instead instigated by online trolls posting "negative comments".

Speaking to Por la Jersey via ESPN Uruguay, Nunez said: "From the moment you start playing and until you retire, there will always be someone who will criticise you.

"Before, I did look at them a lot and it affected me. Whoever says that those negative comments do not affect them is lying, those negative comments that are directed towards you will always affect you.

"They tell me everything, but I ignore those comments because they are of no use to me. I never look at the negative comments on social media, at least now I'm not looking at anything, not even the good stuff. If a game goes badly for me, I rely on my family.

"When things go badly for me, I get hot, but I try to laugh with my family and not show my son the anger I have, what happened in the game is already there, it's already happened, and there is always revenge."

What does the future hold for Darwin Nunez?

Nunez has given no real indications to suggest that he is seeking to leave Liverpool, where he is under contract until the summer of 2028.

Although a potential move to Barcelona could tempt Nunez, the Catalan giants are known to be struggling financially and would seemingly lack the resources to recruit a player who cost £85m almost two summers ago.

Nunez should instead be motivated by the prospect of working under new Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who was officially confirmed as Klopp's successor earlier this week.

The Uruguayan will hope to impress Slot ahead of the new season when he represents Uruguay at the 2024 Copa America later this summer.