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
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsUniversidad Católica2020Primera División202——41112542021Primera División28600—70103662022Primera División16011—5110232Total64811—162318412Norwich City2022–23Championship3731010——3932023–24Championship3622020—204222024–25Championship3261020——3562025–26Championship20—11——31Total107114061—2011912Ipswich Town2025–26Championship36300———3632026–27Premier League200012——32Total 3830012——395Career total2092251731625124229
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsChile202170202271202373202471202550202610Total345
Scores and results list Chile's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Núñez goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Marcelino NúñezNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition 1 1 February 2022 Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia 2–1 3–2 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification 2 16 June 2023 Estadio Ester Roa, Concepción, Chile 1–0 3–0 Friendly 3 3–0 412 October 2023Estadio Monumental David Arellano, Santiago, Chile2–02–02026 FIFA World Cup qualification 5 26 March 2024 Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France 1–0 2–3 Friendly
Honours Participó en su niñez en clubes de colina y Batuco uno de ellos Chile España Batuco Universidad Católica Primera División: 2020, 2021 Supercopa de Chile: 2020, 2021
Individual EFL Championship Goal of the Month: February 2023
References
External links Profile at the Norwich City F.C. website