Darwin Nunez was subjected to a raft of brutal comments after his anonymous 45-minute performance in Uruguay's World Cup draw with Saudi Arabia
FLORIDA, USA - JUNE 15: Darwin Nunez and Federico Vinas of Uruguay react after conceding a goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup First Stage Group H match between Saudi Arabia and Uruguay at Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium) in Miami Gardens, Florida, United States on June 15, 2026. (Photo by Evrim Aydın/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Darwin Nunez endured a nightmare start to his World Cup(Image: Getty Images)
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Darwin Nunez was torn apart by World Cup fans after suffering the embarrassment of being hooked after just 45 minutes during Uruguay's World Cup draw with Saudi Arabia. The 26-year-old has endured a torrid time in recent months and is currently available on a free transfer after he mutually agreed to terminate his contract at Al-Hilal.
It was only last summer that Nunez left Liverpool for the riches of Saudi in a deal that was worth £46.3millon plus bonuses. Despite a promising start, his career in the Middle East soon went awry, and he is now looking for a new club less than 12 months on after just nine goals and 24 matches for the club.
Nunez's departure from Al-Hilal has seen him linked with a return to the Premier League, with Uruguayan outlet Carve Deportiva even claiming he could head back to Anfield. However, any return looks incredibly unlikely despite Hugo Ekitike's long-term injury, while Fabrizio Romano has also shot down the report.
The ex-Liverpool man, however, wouldn't have done his chances of securing a move this summer any favour with his performance on Monday. Nunez endured a nightmare first half, completing just three passes before Marcelo Bielsa had seen enough and hooked him at half time with Uruguay trailing 1-0.
There was little sympathy from World Cup fans who laid into his anonymous performance. "Darwin Nunez has done nothing this game I can’t even tell if he on the pitch," one fan wrote on X shortly before he was taken off.
FLORIDA, USA - JUNE 15: Darwin Nunez (9) of Uruguay in action against Moteb Al-Harbi (24) of Saudi Arabia during the 2026 FIFA World Cup First Stage Group H match between Saudi Arabia and Uruguay at Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium) in Miami Gardens, Florida, United States on June 15, 2026. (Photo by Evrim Aydin/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The former Liverpool striker was subbed off at half-time(Image: Getty Images)
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A second said: "Darwin Nunez is not good enough," while another called for his 'downfall to be studied' and others described him as a ghost.
Another user added: "Darwin Nunez up front is the perfect metaphor for just how bad Uruguay are right now."
Nunez's case won't have been helped by the fact that Uruguay were much improved after the break in his absence. Bielsa's side appeared to be invigorated by two half-time substitutions, with Agustin Canobbio and Juan Manuel Sanabria coming on.
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Uruguay had to wait until the 80th minute, though, to grab their deserved equaliser through Maximiliano Araujo and probably should've won it bar some poor finishing and bad luck.
Nunez will hope he'll get a chance to impress again against Cape Verde on Sunday as he looks to put himself in the shop window. Despite his struggle for consistency at Liverpool, the Uruguayan had some inspired moments in a Reds shirt and is said to have interest from the likes of Chelsea and Newcastle.
Liverpool, however, are prioritising the signing of a winger over an out-and-out striker like Nunez as Andoni Iraola has the unenviable task of finding a suitable replacement for Mohamed Salah.
RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande, who impressed in his first match at the World Cup with the Ivory Coast, has long been mentioned as a target, though the teenager comes with a hefty £86million price tag.
There is a suggestion that two wingers could even be signed to help fill the boots left behind by Salah, who is said to be in talks to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.
PSG's Bradley Barcola is another name regularly linked with Liverpool and is someone with a serious pedigree, having won the Champions League twice and registered 76 goal contributions during his time with the French club.
There could also be reinforcements added in midfield in defence, with the likes of Adam Wharton, Micky van de Ven and Nathaniel Brown emerging as possible targets.
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