"He wasn't a world beater" - Chris Sutton reacts to shock Norwich City, Ipswich Town transfer | OneFootball

Marcelino Nunez made the move from Norwich to Ipswich late in the summer transfer window

Chris Sutton believes that Norwich City were right to cash in on Marcelino Nunez following his move to bitter rivals Ipswich Town.

It was reported by the BBC that a £10 million agreement was reached between the two rivals in the late stages of the summer market.

The Chile international is the first player to move from Carrow Road to Portman Road since Andy Marshall’s switch in 2001.

The 25-year-old was in the final year of his contract with the Canaries, but is sure to come under fire from Norwich supporters when Liam Manning’s side faces Ipswich on 5 October.

Chris Sutton backs Norwich’s £10m Marcelino Nunez sale

Sutton has praised the likes of Liam Manning, Ben Knapper and Zoe Webber for their decision to cash in on Nunez.

He believes that a £10 million fee represents great business for the club given the time left on his contract, while also suggesting it’s good value given his level of importance to the team.

“I understand why so many supporters have gotten hot under the collar with a player moving to their rivals, but to get £10 million for someone in the last 10 months of their contract is exceptional business,” wrote Sutton, via Pink Un.

“It is the job of Manning, Ben Knapper, Zoe Webber and the board to prioritise that.

“Nunez was an excellent player for Norwich, but he wasn't a world beater.

“There were flashes of brilliance, and he is a creator of moments, but was inconsistent. Nobody else would pay £10 million for him.

“Let's have it right.”

Chris Sutton downplays Marcelino Nunez’s move to Ipswich

Sutton has also claimed that the significance of moving from Norwich to Ipswich won’t have the same impact on Nunez as it would to local supporters, and that he understands why he opted for the move.

“I'm not going to criticise the club in any way, shape or form for that,” he continued.

“The £10 million, regardless of where he ended up, whether at Ipswich or not, is good money.

“There has to be that understanding of where Norwich are at as a club and the model which they have.

“All they've done is straightforward business in that respect.

“As for Nunez himself, he might not have that attachment like I or other Norwich fans have because we know what it would be like to make that move.

“I was brought up in and around Norwich, that's where I grew up.

“He's Chilean and has only had a reasonably brief time at Norwich.

“He may not feel it or may not think it's a big deal.

“He'd be daft if he didn't recognise that there's always a strong passion with regard to the way that the fans feel towards the rivalry.

“But he would have looked at it from his point of view; it would have been about playing and the monetary aspect, and he would have felt it was worth the move.

“I'm not saying I agree with that, but it's an individual decision.”

Norwich will travel to Portman Road for the first East Anglian derby of the season on 5 October.

Supporters won’t be happy about Marcelino Nunez’s move no matter the fee

Sutton makes a reasonable argument, and the £10 million received for his sale is good business given the impending expiration of his contract.

However, supporters won’t be happy to see any player move from their club to their bitter rivals, no matter the situation.

Nunez will be expecting a negative reception from the fans when he plays against the Canaries later this season, and that’s the nature of rivalries.

But the club itself doesn’t deserve too much criticism, as they’ve managed to offload a player for a good fee that could’ve easily left for nothing in 2026 if he’d stayed instead.