Darwin Nunez pushes to leave Al-Hilal, dreams of Barcelona move

Hupu, July 23 — According to L. Miguelsanz of Diario Sport, Uruguayan striker Darwin Núñez is accelerating his efforts to leave Al Hilal this summer. The player does not want to remain at the Saudi club, and his agent, Jorge Mendes, is seeking opportunities for him at Barcelona. Núñez's dream is to join the Catalan side.

Current Situation

Núñez traveled to Austria on Tuesday to join the Al Hilal squad, but he hopes to resolve his future before the team returns to Saudi Arabia on August 3. Al Hilal has made it clear that Karim Benzema is the core player, leaving Núñez as a substitute. The club no longer counts on him, and the player himself is unwilling to stay.

The Uruguayan striker has entrusted all his affairs to Mendes, who is exploring various options to bring Núñez back to a top European league project. Núñez is closely monitoring Barcelona's moves regarding the number nine position, and his dream is to wear the Blaugrana jersey.

History of a Missed Opportunity

Núñez and Barcelona have a history of a near-transfer. In 2020, then-Barcelona technical secretary Ramon Planes made a cautious offer with a 50% ownership clause for Núñez, who was playing for Almería at the time. Barcelona held him in high regard, with Luis Suárez even seeing him as his successor at the club. The deal was nearly finalized when Benfica intervened, paying €33 million to disrupt it. The Portuguese club later made a huge profit by selling him to the Premier League.

Career Trajectory

• 2020: Nearly joined Barcelona from Almería; Benfica intervened with a €33 million offer
• Benfica: Núñez exploded onto the scene, becoming one of the most sought-after strikers in world football
• Liverpool: Signed for over €80 million; inconsistent spell followed
• Summer 2024: Joined Al Hilal for €55 million
• Present: At 27, eager to join a team with Champions League ambitions

Poor career management has dimmed his shine, but he remains a top striker.

Current Negotiations

Having just played in the World Cup for Uruguay, Núñez has offered himself to Barcelona and is awaiting further developments. His priority is to first reach a smooth termination agreement with Al Hilal.

Earlier, Saudi media reported progress in termination talks, but that is not the case. Al Hilal wants to recoup its investment in him, and the only option is to open a door similar to Barcelona's loan deal for João Cancelo. If an opportunity to join Barcelona arises, Núñez is willing to forgo part of his lucrative Saudi salary, though no decisive steps have been taken in this regard yet.

Barcelona's Position

Barcelona is currently fully focused on the transfer of Julián Álvarez, with new developments expected in the coming days as the Argentine striker publicly pressures Atlético Madrid. However, Barcelona knows that if they turn to Núñez, he would be a viable alternative.

Source: Diario Sport