NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Darwin Núñez is prepared to call time on his adventure in Saudi Arabia after reaching an agreement to leave Al-Hilal at the end of the current campaign.
The former Liverpool forward has endured a difficult spell in the Middle East, being frozen out of the squad following a registration crunch.
A brutal end to the Saudi chapter
Núñez is set to leave Al-Hilal less than a year after joining the Saudi giants.
The Uruguay international, now 26, moved to the Middle East last August for an initial fee of £46 million ($63 million) but his time in Riyadh has quickly turned into a nightmare following a reckless squad decision by the club’s management.
The striker 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 wages at Anfield – Núñez is prioritizing his playing career over financial gain after being sidelined for the second half of the season.
The Benzema factor and registration issues
The catalyst for Núñez’s downfall at Al-Hilal was Karim Benzema’s arrival in January.
Saudi Pro League rules dictate that clubs can only register eight foreign players born before 2003 in their 25-man squad.
When the French legend arrived, Al-Hilal were forced to make a difficult choice and it was Nunez who was sacrificed to make way for the former Real Madrid captain.
Therefore, the 26-year-old has not been with the club since February.
Although he recorded a respectable return of six goals and four assists in 16 league games, he has been forced to train away from matchday for several months.
Reports from Uruguayan outlet Referee suggests that he has been professional throughout, but his lack of playing time has cost him his starting place in Marcelo Bielsa’s national team.
Matches from Anfield to Riyadh
Núñez’s move to Saudi Arabia came after a polarizing three-year spell at Liverpool. Signed from Benfica for a fee that could have reached £85 million ($116 million), he never quite lived up to the billing 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 labeled his work rate “unacceptable.”
During his time at Anfield, Núñez scored 40 goals in 143 appearances, but his spell was often defined by high-profile misses and a lack of consistency.
His final season under Jürgen Klopp saw him fall out of favor and when Al-Hilal offered Liverpool a way to recoup a significant chunk of their investment, the club opted to cash in on the striker.
Back to Europe for the Uruguayan?
A return to the Premier League could be on the cards as Núñez looks to rebuild his reputation.
Chelsea have been credited with an interest in the striker as they continue their search for a clinical edge, while Serie A giants Juventus are also said to be monitoring the situation.
Both clubs would represent a chance for Nunez to prove he can still compete at the highest level of European football.
With his best form coming during his final season at Benfica, where he scored 34 times in 41 games, potential suitors will be hoping they can rediscover the player who terrorized Champions League defences.
