Former Liverpool man Darwin Nunez was recently axed from Al-Hilal’s domestic squad.
Darwin Nunez’s Saudi adventure has taken a dramatic twist, with the former Liverpool striker cut from Al-Hilal’s domestic league squad in a ruthless reshuffle to accommodate Karim Benzema.
Saudi Pro League rules limit how many overseas players clubs can register in their 25-man domestic squads, forcing tough decisions when new big names arrive. Al-Hilal are only able to register a fixed number of foreign players over a certain age, and Benzema’s arrival has taken one of those precious spots.
As a result, Nunez has been deregistered from the club’s league list, effectively ruling him out of Saudi Pro League action for the rest of the season unless there is another reshuffle.
There is at least one lifeline for the Uruguayan: Nunez can still feature for Al-Hilal in the AFC Champions League, where registration rules differ from the Saudi Pro League. With only a handful of continental fixtures left this season, though, that offers limited opportunity for rhythm and redemption compared to the weekly grind of league football.
As a result, Fabrizio Romano has reported that Nunez could be on the move this summer – taking to his Yoube channel to say:
“Former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez who joined Al Hilal in 2025 is out of the squad for the Saudi Pro League season,” Romano reported. “What does it mean? From now Darwin Nunez will not be able to play anymore for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. He can only play in the Asian Champions League.
“Why? Because with Karim Benzema joining the club and with Marcos Leonardo they have no space for Nunez. It’s a difficult situation, disappointing for the player. I think in the summer there could be movements around Darwin Nunez, that’s my feeling. Keep an eye on him. Fenerbahce rumours in January were never concrete from what I’m told, but in the summer it could be different.”
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