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Darwin Núñez is ready to end his adventure in Saudi Arabia after reaching a deal to leave Al-Hilal at the end of the current campaign.
The former Liverpool striker endured a difficult time in the Middle East, finding himself left 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 stay in Riyadh quickly turned into a nightmare following a callous decision by the club’s management.
The striker reached an agreement with the club’s hierarchy to facilitate his departure this summer.
Despite earning £400,000 a week – more than double his previous salary at Anfield – Núñez is prioritizing his playing career over financial gain after being effectively sidelined for the second half of the season.
The Benzema factor and recording problems
The catalyst for Núñez’s downfall at Al-Hilal was the arrival of Karim Benzema in January.
Saudi Pro League regulations state 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 choice and it was Nunez who was sacrificed to make way for the former Real Madrid captain.
As a result, the 26-year-old has not played for the club since February.
Although he recorded a respectable return of six goals and four assists in 16 league appearances, he was forced to train away from the match day squad for months.
Uruguayan media reports Reference suggest he remained professional throughout, but his lack of playing time cost him his starting place in Marcelo Bielsa’s national team.
Anfield struggles in 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 the billing on Merseyside.
While he helped the Reds win a Premier League title during his time there, his final months were marred by criticism from Arne Slot, who described his work rate as “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 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 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 in 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 defenses.
