- Nunez won’t play again until World Cup
- Dream move turns into nightmare
- Linked with summer exit already
Darwin Nunez left Liverpool for Al-Hilal in the summer of 2025, and his dream move has quickly turned into a nightmare.
The Uruguayan striker was among the players affected by the AFC Champions League being postponed in March due to the Iran vs US-Israel situation. He has been left out of Al-Hilal’s Saudi Pro League squad and has only featured in Asian competitions.
Things have got worse for the Al-Hilal star as his side were knocked out of the competition this week. They lost 4-2 on penalties to Al-Sadd, after the Round of 16 tie ended 3-3 after extra time.
Nunez was already suspended for the game after he got booked in the previous game. He will now have to sit in the stands for the rest of the season, and continue training during the week to maintain his fitness ahead of the FIFA World Cup this summer.
Simone Inzaghi, who was appointed as the manager at the club, made the bold decision earlier this year after the club signed Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad. He had to pick between the new signing and the former Liverpool man, and he said:
“The decision was difficult, but that’s the job of a coach. He makes many decisions every day, even in every training session. Nunez and Pablo Mari are good players. I want them in all competitions, but we know the restrictions on registering foreign players.”
Nunez has played just 24 matches for the Saudi side since making the move last summer, scoring nine times and assisting five times. He was linked with a move away in the winter window, but nothing materialized.
Chelsea urged to sign former Liverpool star
Former Chelsea star Marcel Desailly has boldly urged his former side to sign Darwin Nunez in the summer. He believes that the striker will be ideal for the Blues and added Manchester United as another side who would suit the Uruguayan. He told Footitalia:
“I’m pleased to see him wanting to come back to European football – it shows money isn’t everything. A club like Chelsea, or the new Manchester United, would be best for him. He needs to be surrounded by established, confident players who know they’re going to play every weekend and who will give him the ball on the first intention.”
“That’s the small detail – when he makes a run, he needs to get the ball immediately. Otherwise he loses confidence quickly. I would actually recommend Núñez for Chelsea. He’s a very good player, a smart player – he just needs the right environment to perform.”
Liverpool sold Nunez for £46 million last summer, and the Reds will be in the market for a short-term solution. The Reds are set to be without Hugo Ekitike for the next few months after he ruptured his Achilles tendon.
The Uruguayan spoke about how he misses Liverpool, as a club and the fans, and it would be interesting to see if the Anfield side decide to bring him back to Merseyside.
Whether the Uruguayan finds himself back at Anfield to finish what he started or heeds Marcel Desailly’s advice by joining a Premier League rival like Chelsea, it is clear that his stint in the Middle East is reaching a premature end.
For Liverpool, the decision rests on whether they are willing to reunite with a familiar face to save their season, or if Nuñez will become the latest star to prove his worth elsewhere in Europe.
