Days after being cut from Al-Hilal’s Saudi Pro League squad, Darwin Nunez scored twice in the only competition he is eligible for and stared at the director’s box.
Nunez was shockingly axed from Al-Hilal’s list of foreign players for the Saudi Pro League on Thursday as new signing Karim Benzema took his place.
It means the striker signed from Liverpool for an initial £46 million only six months ago can only feature for his new club in the AFC Champions League.
Monday brought the first in a maximum of six games Nunez is eligible for between now and the end of the season as Al-Hilal hosted UAE side Al Wahda.
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Nunez netted both goals in a 2-1 victory, first opening the scoring midway through the first half before securing victory with 13 minutes left to play.
In celebrating his second – a far-post finish with his left foot – the 26-year-old sent a pointed message to the Al-Hilal ownership by turning and staring towards the director’s box.
Al-Hilal were already qualified for the last 16 but Nunez’s brace capped a near-perfect league stage with a seventh win in eight games as they finished top.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 12, 2022: Liverpool's Roberto Firmino (L) celebrates with team-mate Darwin Núñez after scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Southampton FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It means they will face **Roberto Firmino**‘s Al Sadd in the last 16, with the two legs taking place on March 2 and March 9.
Nunez is set to sit out of Al-Hilal’s next three games before then, however, with Benzema due to take over duties up front in the Saudi Pro League clashes with Al-Ittihad, Al-Taawoun and Al-Shabab.
Even if Al-Hilal go all the way in the AFC Champions League, there are only five more games in which Liverpool’s former No. 9 can be involved in.
Darwin Nunez: Liverpool to Al-Hilal Transfer Details
Transfer Fee £46 million
Add-Ons £10.4 million
Contract Expiry 2028
Clubs Linked Fenerbahce, River Plate
Transfer Note: Liverpool stand to lose out on the majority of the agreed £10.4m in add-ons if Nunez fails to meet performance targets at Al-Hilal or joins a new club.
And with the Saudi Pro League campaign running until May it will be a long three months with little football to show for it – as was the case when Firmino was deregistered while at Al-Ahli.
All signs point to a summer transfer for Nunez, with Liverpool standing to lose out financially after agreeing £10.4 million in performance-based add-ons in their deal with Al-Hilal.
He has so far scored nine goals and laid on five assists in 24 appearances for the Saudi club – including six goals and four assists in 16 league games – while Benzema has three goals and an assist in two games so far.