Rumors are growing over a return to Liverpool for Darwin Nunez this summer, and Andoni Iraola knows all about that striker, having suffered at his hands on more than one occasion at Bournemouth
10:44, 09 Jun 2026
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 01: Andoni Iraola, Manager of AFC Bournemouth, hugs Darwin Nunez of Liverpool after the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at Vitality Stadium on February 01, 2025 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola was left stunned by Darwin Nunez's goal for Liverpool against Bournemouth(Image: Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola found himself regularly suffering at the hands of Darwin Nunez at Bournemouth - and now there are suggestions he could bring him back to Liverpool this summer.
Nunez only left Anfield last summer after three years with Reds, in which time his big-money move from Benfica didn’t work out as planned. Things haven’t gone any better for the Uruguayan since departing, with his time in Saudi Arabia already looking as though it’s coming to an end.
The 26-year-old endured a nightmare second half of the season at Al-Hilal, having been dropped from the club’s league squad after the signing of Karim Benzema.
Nunez hasn’t actually played a competitive club game since February, which has led to suggestions that his contract could be terminated by Al-Hilal, and that has led to some Liverpool fans calling for him to return.
The sensational suggestion has been gaining traction on social media, and Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo has claimed that Nunez would like to return to Liverpool as rumors suggest he is being eyed up for a move back to the Premier League.
If - and it is a very big if - he was to return to Anfield, Nunez would find himself playing under his third different manager after Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot, with Iraola now in charge.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Darwin Nunez of Uruguay during the international friendly match between England and Uruguay at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Darwin Nunez has been linked with a return to Liverpool this summer(Image: Molly Darlington, Getty Images)
The former Bournemouth boss has actually suffered more than most at the hands of the striker. Nunez boasts a superb record against the Cherries, having scored four goals in six games against them - his best return against any Premier League side.
And one of those goals in particular left Iraola stunned. Back in November 2023, Nunez came off the bench to score a stunning winner against Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup, cutting in from the left before curling the ball brilliantly into the top right corner.
That goal played a huge role in Liverpool’s season, with the Reds going on to win at Wembley against Chelsea for Klopp’s final trophy in charge, and Iraola couldn’t quite believe what he saw.
“We probably deserved more,” Iraola claimed after the game. “The players deserved more. We had our chances, and we were creating a lot of chances in the second half. Liverpool were struggling.
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“But it’s true that Darwin made the difference with a huge strike. A very good goal. And they (Liverpool) are the ones who are in the next round.
“There’s not a lot we can do with those type of goals. He struck the ball amazingly.”
Liverpool.com says: Despite the growing rumors surrounding a return for Nunez to Anfield, there is no indication that Liverpool is looking to re-sign the striker. In fact, Al-Hilal has not even made a decision on his future at this stage.
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Nunez has previously admitted that he misses the Liverpool fans, but even if he does become available, whether that is as a free agent or if Al-Hilal looks to recoup some kind of fee, it’s hard to imagine he’ll be making his way back to Merseyside.