Daniel Muñoz (Amalfi, 1996) is one of the ‘cannons’ of the Palace. The Colombian right side/lane is immovable in Oliver Glasner 1-3-4-4-2-1.
And rightly. The former genk, signed a little over a year ago, in January 2024, for 8 million euros, has become one of the best in the world in his position. Last summer he was already one of the revelations – he married two goals and gave an assistance – of the Copa América … although he did not play the final that Colombia would end up losing with Argentina by sanction.
It came to score 19 goals and distribute 20 assists in 148 games in Belgium, but with the Crystal Palace it cost him 32 games to be released as a scorer. Now, he has taken pleasure. This season already accumulates five goals and five other goal passes in the 32 games he has played. Almost more typical numbers of one end. In fact, within the five major leagues, there is only one player who, acting in his same demarcation, has marked more targets (8): Denzel Dumfries.
The ’12’ of the ‘Águilas’, which has scored three goals in its last five games, shines in attack … without neglecting the defense. It is, in fact, the player who most ‘Tackles’ (inputs at ground level) has successfully completed the entire Premier: 61 of 91. It is true that his fierce also plays bad passes: this course has already received 10 yellow cards. No red, yes.
“It’s the perfect player prototype for the Premier”
“If I had to choose the perfect player profile that fits in the Premier League, I would choose Daniel Muñoz. It is the ideal prototype. You can run up and down. Up and down. It has an exceptional mentality. In each session it is the one that runs the most, the one that most sprint. Play each game with the greatest intensity. It is the desire of any coach to have such a player, ”says Oliver Glasner.
You can run up and down. Up and down. In each session he runs the most and plays each game with the greatest intensity
Oliver Glasner.
“I really liked his goal because it was his tenth 70-meter career,” Glasner underlines about his recent goal in La Fulham victory (0-2). Little that has come with a double prize ‘under the arm’: he has been chosen ‘goal of the month’ in the Premier, while Muñoz has received the award of ‘Best Player’ of the Palace in February.
“I am an intense soccer player, round trip. I like possession, but with mischief and desire to go, return, put and win. I identify a lot with that game,” recognizes the side ‘coffee maker’
Ronaldinho and Alves fan, dreams playing at Barça
Daniel Muñoz’s tempor is not going unnoticed. According to ‘Antena 2’, the Colombian side/lane would be closely followed by Barcelona, Manchester City and Chelsea.
Daniel Muñoz.Driblab’s performance chart
To go to the Camp Nou, I would have fulfilled the double prophecy that made ‘ESPN’ in 2020: “I have always liked and long for playing in Barcelona, but I also like English football, longing to play in the Premier League, be the team that is.”
I always liked and long for playing in Barcelona
Daniel Muñoz
It is not surprising. His great idols have passed through Barça: “As a child my idol was always Ronaldinho. I played extreme and noticed imbalancing players like him. When I started playing side, I looked at Dani Alves, his movements, how I attacked and defended, so he also became my idol.”
A late explosion: he began playing goalkeeper
‘The fan on the court’, as Daniel Muñoz nicknamed in Atlético Nacional for the passion he put on the ‘green’, had an atypical race: “I wanted to play as a goalkeeper, but in my first game, the other team scored six or seven goals and no longer wanted to be a goalkeeper.”
I wanted to play goalkeeper. But in my first game, the other team scored six or seven goals and I no longer wanted to be a goalkeeper
Daniel Muñoz
Daniel Muñoz came to try without success in Mexico, Brazil, Spain or Italy. “I saw that my career was escaping. He had not had a good opportunity in professional football. Already as an adult, with 20 years, without a club … that’s when you start doubting whether you are going to continue or not, “he recalls.
Suddenly, in 2019, with its signing for Atlético Nacional, the team of their loves, his career took off. In his first year he scored seven goals in 20 games. “I always liked to be where a striker should be in the field,” he jokes.
His example is gold for the youngest. “I encourage you to never stop dreaming, because it’s never too late. I fulfilled my dream being older, so nothing is impossible, ”he says, at 28, Daniel Muñoz. It is no accident that, with that perseverance, it has become one of the best sides in the world.