Marcelino Núñez

Marcelino Ignacio Núñez Espinoza (born 1 March 2000) is a Chilean professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Ipswich Town and the Chile national team.

Club career

Universidad Católica Nuñez made his professional debut in February 2020, coming on as a sub and playing 25 minutes in a home win against Deportes Iquique in San Carlos de Apoquindo. His Copa Libertadores debut was a few days later, on 3 March 2020, in a 3–0 away loss against Brazil's Internacional. His first professional goal came just a week later, in a 2–1 home loss against América de Cali, after bending a free-kick right into the goalkeeper's upper right corner.

Norwich City On 2 August 2022, Núñez joined EFL Championship club Norwich City for an undisclosed fee. He scored his first goal for Norwich in a 2–1 away loss to Hull City on 13 August. On 21 February 2023, he scored a brace in a 3–1 victory against Birmingham City, including a volley from 25 yards out, which later won the EFL Championship Goal of the Month award for February 2023.

Ipswich Town On 29 August 2025, Núñez signed for fellow Championship side and Norwich City's East Anglian rivals Ipswich Town on a four-year deal. As a result of moving to a direct rival, he became the first player to make the move since Andy Marshall in 2001. The move also outraged Norwich City supporters.

Núñez made his debut for the club, coming on as a 62nd-minute substitute, in a 5–0 win against Sheffield United on 12 September 2025. In his first match against his former club, Norwich City, on 5 October 2025, he was booed by the travelling supporters after coming on as 75th-minute substitute, in a 3–1 win. After the match, Núñez caused controversy when he celebrated with Ipswich Town fans by pulling a corner flag out of the ground and posing with a banner poking fun at a Norwich fan's old tweet. On 1 November 2025, Núñez scored his first two goals for Ipswich Town, both free kicks, in a 4–1 away win over Queens Park Rangers. Three weeks later on 25 November 2025, he scored his third goal for the club, in a 2–0 win against Hull City.

International career Núñez was called up to the Chile squad for the 2021 Copa América, though he didn't make any appearances. He made his international debut in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Colombia on 9 September 2021. Núñez scored his first international goal for Chile in a qualification match against Bolivia on 1 February 2022.

Personal life His younger brother, Bastián, is a youth player from the Universidad Católica youth ranks.

Career statistics Club

International

Scores and results list Chile's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Núñez goal.

Honours Universidad Católica Primera División: 2020, 2021 Supercopa de Chile: 2020, 2021

Individual EFL Championship Goal of the Month: February 2023