River Plate have become part of a new round of noise around Darwin Núñez, only months after the striker left Liverpool for Al Hilal. But different sources are telling different stories at the moment.
Castillo’s version: an unexpected offer and a player unsettled
According to a report fromEl Intransigente, the Buenos Aires club received an unexpected approach from an intermediary claiming he could bring Núñez back to South America.
Journalist Hernán Castillo claims River are in the market for a heavyweight striker. And the poor form of their forwards in the final stretch of 2025.
That, he explained, is why the possibility of signing a “world class 9” was taken seriously. He added that the intermediary described Núñez as “bored” in Saudi Arabia, especially following Liverpool, and looking for a way out. That prompted River to check if the information “could actually be true”.
The same report highlighted that Núñez’s short stay in Saudi Arabia has not gone to plan, with people close to the player insisting he has struggled to adapt. The intensity and following of Liverpool is a lot to leave behind for Saudi.
Castillo wrote that this alone “lit up the excitement” inside River… Even though the club were still trying to verify the legitimacy of the offer.
Pantich’s rebuttal: not offered and financially impossible
Darwin Nunez
Girona, Spain. 10th Dec, 2024. Darwin Nunez in action during the Uefa Champions League match between Girona FC and Liverpool FC at the Montilivi Stadium.
A very different picture was painted by Renzo Pantich, writing forSoy del Millo. He stressed that Núñez was not offered to River and insisted the rumour resurfaced only because the club are evaluating several striker options this window.
Pantich also pointed out that Núñez left Liverpool only a few months ago, joined Al Hilal for a huge fee and, crucially, earns 24 million euros per year. For that reason, he argued, River have no financial path to even explore a deal. His conclusion was blunt:“He won’t play for River.”
The contrast between the two versions leaves Núñez’s situation open to interpretation. What both agree on is that the striker’s post-Liverpool move has not produced the smooth settling-in many expected.