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It has been a difficult chapter for Darwin Nunez since swapping Liverpool for the Saudi Pro League last summer.
His time in the Gulf rapidly unravelled following the January arrival of Karim Benzema, who displaced him from the squad entirely due to the league’s foreign player quota restrictions.
Having managed nine goals in 24 appearances before being effectively frozen out, Nunez and Al-Hilal have reportedly mutually agreed to terminate his contract, leaving the 26-year-old as a free agent heading into the summer of 2026.
That free agent status was always going to set the rumour mill spinning, and sure enough, it did not take long for whispers of a sensational return to Anfield to gain traction online.
However, those hoping for a reunion have been firmly brought back to earth.
On The Athletic’s Walk On podcast, journalist James Pearce did not mince his words, calling the idea “ridiculous” and pointing out that even if Nunez arrived for free, the wage demands and signing-on fees involved would make the deal completely impractical.
Fabrizio Romano followed suit, stating clearly that “sources close to Darwin’s camp deny this information” and that there is “nothing ongoing” between the player and Liverpool at this time.
With the Anfield door firmly closed, attention is now turning elsewhere.
Italian giants AC Milan have emerged as a credible suitor.
According to a report from Italian outlet Tuttosport, super-agent Jorge Mendes, who was the intermediary when Nunez moved to Saudi Arabia, is now actively working on placing the striker at the San Siro.
Milan has struggled badly in front of goal, with Santiago Gimenez finishing the season without a league goal and the club missing out on Champions League football, making a new striker an absolute priority for incoming manager Ruben Amorim.
Tuttosport report that Nunez is listed as an alternative option to Goncalo Ramos, with Mendes holding strong existing relationships with Milan that could smooth the path for a deal – provided Nunez is willing to accept a significant salary reduction compared to his Saudi earnings.