Victor Munoz: Iraola’s First Signing for Liverpool
Victor Munoz has not yet kicked a ball for Liverpool, but his arrival already carries the clear imprint of Andoni Iraola.
The 22-year-old became the first signing of the Iraola era last week when Liverpool moved decisively, triggering his £34.5m release clause at Osasuna and beating Newcastle United to his signature. For months, Newcastle had been in the strongest position. Liverpool had monitored him, admired him, but waited. Iraola’s appointment changed the tempo.
Once the new head coach walked through the door at Anfield, interest turned into action.
Munoz, speaking to EFE in Spain, made it plain: this was not just about money or the Premier League badge. It was about a manager with a plan.
“Liverpool is an opportunity you can't miss,” he said, explaining that he had tried to block out transfer noise while on World Cup duty. The deal, he revealed, moved quickly once Iraola laid out his vision. The coach “transmitted his confidence” and showed him how he would fit into the team. That clarity tipped the balance.
Newcastle were not the only ones left disappointed. Bayer Leverkusen, Manchester United and former club Real Madrid had all tracked the Spain international, who made two senior appearances for Madrid before joining Osasuna last year. Yet when Liverpool finally pushed, the race was effectively over.
For Munoz, leaving Osasuna clearly stung on an emotional level. “Osasuna, it's an incredible place. I will always keep it in my heart,” he said. “They have made me live the best football year of my entire career.” That line tells its own story: a young player who found himself, then outgrew his surroundings faster than anyone expected.
Right now, though, his new chapter is on pause.
Munoz has watched Spain’s World Cup campaign from the sidelines so far, a muscle injury ruling him out of a shock draw with Cape Verde and a commanding win over Saudi Arabia. For a 22-year-old on the brink of a dream tournament and a blockbuster move, the timing could hardly be crueller.
“We were carrying it,” he admitted of the injury, “but I noticed a discomfort and we are trying to resume the process to be on the field as soon as possible.” The frustration is obvious. “This is the dream of a child and seeing that it can be twisted by an injury annoys you a lot.”
Those are not the words of someone coasting through a glamorous summer. They are the words of a player wrestling with the fear that the biggest stage might pass him by.
To cope, Munoz has leaned heavily on the psychological support around La Roja. He highlighted his conversations with Javier Lopez Vallejo, the national team psychologist, as crucial in keeping his mindset steady during a period that could easily spiral.
“Both abroad and here with Javi I have my talks. It helps me a lot, it helps me to see another perspective of everything that happens here. It's a pleasure to have him,” Munoz said. His team-mates, too, have been “a fundamental pillar” in keeping his hunger and focus sharp.
For Liverpool, all of this matters. They are not just signing a talented Spain international. They are signing a player who has already had to navigate the pressure of a World Cup, the weight of a major transfer, and the mental strain of watching it all from the treatment room.
Munoz insists the World Cup is “the only thing I think about” and speaks with urgency about being back “on the pitch as soon as possible.” Iraola will like that. At Anfield, there will be no easing in. The trust between coach and player has been established early; the expectation will follow.
Liverpool have their first signing of a new era. Now they wait for the moment when Victor Munoz can finally swap the physio’s room for the grass and show exactly why Iraola pushed so hard to bring him to Anfield.
