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Darwin Núñez is willing to end his adventure in Saudi Arabia after reaching an agreement to leave Al-Hilal at the end of the current campaign.
The former Liverpool striker has endured a difficult period in the Middle East and has been excluded from the squad following a shortage of registrations.
A brutal end to the Saudi chapter
Núñez will leave Al-Hilal less than a year after joining the Saudi Arabian giants.
The Uruguay international, now 26, moved to the Middle East last August for an initial fee of £46 million ($63 million), but his stay in Riyadh quickly turned into a nightmare following a ruthless decision by the club’s management on the team.
The forward has reached an agreement with the club’s hierarchy to facilitate his departure this summer.
Despite earning a staggering £400,000 a week (more than double his previous salary at Anfield), Nunez is prioritizing his playing career over financial gains after being effectively sidelined for the second half of the season.
The Benzema factor and registration problems
The catalyst for Núñez’s fall at Al-Hilal was the arrival of Karim Benzema in January.
Saudi Pro League regulations dictate that clubs can only register eight foreign players born before 2003 in their 25-man squads.
When the French legend arrived, Al-Hilal was forced to make a difficult decision and it was Núñez who sacrificed himself to make room for the former Real Madrid captain.
Consequently, the 26-year-old has not played for the club since February.
Although he registered a respectable six goals and four assists in 16 league games, he has been forced to train outside of the match day squad for months.
Reports from the Uruguayan media Reference suggest he has remained professional throughout, but his lack of playing time has cost him his starting spot in Marcelo Bielsa’s national team.
Fights from Anfield to Riyadh
Núñez moved to Saudi Arabia after a polarizing three-year spell at Liverpool. Signed from Benfica for a fee that could have reached £85 million ($116 million), he never lived up to expectations on Merseyside.
While he helped the Reds to a Premier League title during his time there, his final months were marred by criticism from Arne Slot, who called his work rate “unacceptable”.
During his time at Anfield, Núñez scored 40 goals in 143 appearances, but his time was often defined by high-profile misses and a lack of consistency.
His final season under Jürgen Klopp saw him fall from grace, and when Al-Hilal offered Liverpool a way to recoup a significant portion of their investment, the club opted to cash in on the striker.
Return to Europe for the Uruguayan?
A return to the Premier League could be on the cards as Nunez looks to rebuild his reputation.
Chelsea are credited with interest in the striker as they continue their search for a clinical edge, while Serie A giants Juventus are also reportedly monitoring the situation.
Both clubs would represent an opportunity for Núñez to show that he can still compete at the highest level of European football.
His best form came during his final season at Benfica, where he scored 34 goals in 41 games, potential suitors will be hoping to rediscover the player who terrorized Champions League defenses.
