Life since leaving Liverpool hasn’t gone to plan for Darwin Nunez, but he got a rare moment of joy with a brace for Al-Hilal.
Just days after the news that Nunez was dropped from Al-Hilal’s league squad, the Uruguayan responded in the best possible way.
It hasn’t been easy for him since making the move to Saudi Arabia, and the arrival of Karim Benzema seems to have pushed the former Liverpool striker down the pecking order.
If you were forced to sell one Liverpool player to Manchester United, who goes?
Man United ‘interested’ in Alexis Mac Allister…
Alexis Mac Allister Liverpool transfer rumour
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
He is still in the squad for continental competition, and his first outing since being axed was exactly what Nunez needed.
Darwin Nunez shines for Al-Hilal with a brace and a reaction
He went to Saudi for big money, and the strange part is that he’s not been bad at all.
Even before putting two past Al Wahda, he was producing at a respectable rate. He now has nine goals and five assists in 22 games for the current league leaders.
But the relationship between Nunez and Al-Hilal has soured.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
So his reaction after this most recent performance seems fairly warranted.
Darwin Nunez pictured on the ball during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Hilal and Al Ettifaq
Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images
After scoring his second of the evening, Nunez quite clearly stared up at the ownership box, as if to say: ‘What are you thinking?’
He was never short on confidence while at Anfield, which was frustrating in itself.
But in this situation, he has every right to feel this way. Al-Hilal have made a rather baffling decision there.
Nunez needs to come back to Europe
The 26-year-old has years of football left at the top level, and while the standard of the Saudi League has elevated, it would be far better to see him in Europe’s Champions League.
Somewhere like La Liga or the Bundesliga would bring the best out of Nunez.
Discuss: Diomande has already proven he’s the BEST replacement for Mo Salah!
Diomande, Doue, Williams and Barcola have been named as potential options…
Yan Diomande gestures to teammates during RB Leipzig's Bundesliga match with VfL Wolfsburg at the Red Bull Arena. Bradley Barcola looks down during PSG's FIFA Club World Cup semi-final against Real Madrid in New Jersey. Nico Williams pictured in action for Athletic Bilbao in their Europa League semi-final clash versus Manchester United. Desire Doue during Paris Saint-Germain v Lille OSC - Ligue 1 McDonald's.
Credit: Boris Streubel/Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/David Ramos/Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
With Benzema certain to take the starting role at Al-Hilal, a summer switch should be on his mind.
It doesn’t seem like the owners will care all that much.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox