Darwin Núñez Set for Loan Return to Portugal from Al Hilal
Darwin Núñez is closing in on another major career reset, with the Al Hilal striker expected to leave the Saudi club on loan, in a deal that would include an option to buy running until June 2027.
The Uruguayan is currently with Al Hilal at their pre-season camp in Austria, but his mind is already elsewhere. He has been pushing hard for a move, and the club have now given the green light for him to depart under the proposed arrangement.
The original idea from Núñez’s side was more drastic: terminate the contract and walk away. That stance has softened. The compromise is a loan, structured so that he sacrifices part of his salary while Al Hilal continue to cover a portion of his wages for one season. It’s a climbdown from the player, but one that opens the door he wants.
Portugal calling again
That door is almost certainly taking him back to familiar ground. According to Saudi outlet Arriyadiyah, Núñez is close to a return to the Portuguese league, with Porto and Benfica emerging as the leading contenders.
For Núñez, the pull of Portugal is obvious. Benfica was where his career caught fire. Signed from Almería for €25 million — a fee that beat competition from Barcelona at the time — he exploded in Lisbon. Goals, noise, and then the big leap: a transfer to Liverpool worth more than €75 million.
That chapter never quite lived up to the billing. Núñez struggled to fully establish himself in the Premier League, his raw power and chaos never consistently translating into the ruthless efficiency Liverpool demanded. His move to Saudi Arabia, meant to reset his trajectory, has not brought the stability or impact either.
So he circles back to where he felt most at home. Porto and Benfica both see the opportunity. For them, it’s a chance to bring in a proven scorer in that league on a relatively controlled deal. For him, it’s a stage he knows, in a country where he thrived.
Negotiations are active, and there is a clear timeline: all parties want the transfer finalised before Al Hilal return to Saudi Arabia on 3 August. The clock is ticking, but the will on every side suggests a solution is close.
Barcelona look elsewhere
Núñez’s situation did not go unnoticed at the highest level. With Barcelona searching for a more affordable alternative to Julian Álvarez, the Uruguayan’s name moved onto their radar.
His representatives even offered him to Barça. The Catalan club studied the proposal, weighed the numbers, and the profile. Nothing moved beyond that. No bid, no formal push.
Barcelona have kept their focus on Álvarez, even as the reality sets in that prising the Argentine away may prove beyond their reach. Núñez, at least for now, will not be the one walking out at Montjuïc in a Blaugrana shirt.
He has had other admirers. Atlanta United from MLS showed interest, as did Besiktas, but neither could turn talks into an agreement. The message from the player’s side has been consistent: a return to Portugal appeals most.
For Núñez, the decision looks less like a step back and more like a strategic retreat to the one place where everything once clicked. The next move will say plenty about how determined he is to become that player again — and which Portuguese giant believes they can be the club to light the fuse.
