Al Ettifaq v Al Hilal - Saudi Pro League
Darwin Nunez is out of Saudi Pro League action for the foreseeable future (Picture: Getty Images)
Former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has been removed from Al Hilal’s squad list for the Saudi Pro League, meaning his chances of playing for the rest of the season are severely limited.
The Uruguayan spent three seasons at Anfield, scoring 40 goals in 143 appearances, but proving to be surplus to requirements under Arne Slot as the Reds spent big last summer.
The unpredictable striker was put on the transfer list and Liverpool found a buyer in Saudi side Al Hilal, who paid around £46m for his services.
The 26-year-old has featured regularly since his move from England, scoring six goals in 16 Saudi Pro League games and netting once in five AFC Champions League Elite matches.
However, there are rules on how many foreign players Saudi Pro League sides can register in their squads and Nunez has been axed by Al Hilal boss Simone Inzaghi.
Al Hilal sit top of the Saudi Pro League after 20 matches but, as it stands, Nunez will not play again in the domestic league this season.
Former Arsenal centre-back Pablo Mari is in the same situation, having moved to the club from Fiorentina last month.
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Al Ittihad v Al Hilal - Saudi Pro League
Simone Inzaghi had to make a tough choice on which foreign players to register (Picture: Getty Images)
The 32-year-old, who also spent time at Manchester City, was at Arsenal from January 2020 until leaving permanently for Monza in 2023, making 22 appearances for the Gunners.
The Spaniard moved to Saudi Arabia in January and has played in the Saudi Pro League, but is now out of contention in the top flight.
However, despite being out of the Pro League squad, Nunez and Mari are eligible to play in the AFC Champions League Elite.
Al Hilal v Al Fayha: Saudi Pro League
Pablo Mari joined Al Hilal on a short-term contract in January (Picture: Getty Images)
Al Hilal are the most successful team in that competition’s history, winning it four times, but not since 2021.
Al Hilal played Dubai’s Shabab Al Ahli in the competition on Monday, with Nunez and Mari in the starting line-up for the goalless draw.
Saudi Pro League sides can only register eight foreign players over the age of 21 and the arrival of Karim Benzema from Al Ittihad this month has cost Nunez.
Al Hilal v Al Riyadh: Saudi Pro League
Nunez celebrates scoring in the Saudi Pro League against Al Riyadh in August (Picture: Getty Images)
Marcos Leonardo Malcom, Frenchmen Karim Benzema and Theo Hernandez, Moroccan Yassine Bounou, Senegalese Kalidou Koulibaly, Portuguese Rúben Neves, and Serbian Sergej Savić
The French forward joins compatriot Theo Hernandez, Brazilians Marcos Leonardo and Malcom, Portugal’s Ruben Neves, Serbia’s Sergej Milinkovic-Davis, Senegal’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Morocco’s Yassine Bounou as foreign players registered for Pro League action.
Not being on the eight-man list will be of great concern for Nunez especially, with the World Cup coming up this summer and Uruguay involved in Group H alongside Spain, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia.
Even if Al Hilal get to the final of the AFC Champions League Elite, he will only play six more club matches before the World Cup.
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