LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 6, 2022: Liverpool's Darwin Núñez (R) celebrates with team-mate Mohamed Salah after scoring his side's first goal to level the score 1-1 during the FA Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 6, 2022: Liverpool's Darwin Núñez (R) celebrates with team-mate Mohamed Salah after scoring his side's first goal to level the score 1-1 during the FA Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Darwin Nunez is expected to be reunited with Mohamed Salah this summer, with the former Liverpool striker reported to have agreed a deal to join Trabzonspor.
Nunez has found himself frozen out at Al-Hilal and, a year on from leaving Liverpool, is seeking a new club this summer.
Despite brief links with a return to Liverpool and claims of interest from Newcastle, the Uruguayan’s most likely destination appears to be Turkey.
Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu now reports on X that Nunez has agreed terms over a move to Trabzonspor, which would see him link up with Salah again.
Salah signed a two-year contract with Trabzonspor earlier this month in a shock development following his departure from Liverpool.
Egypt's Mohamed Salah wearing his new Trabzonspor team jersey gestures to supporters as he arrives at the airport in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. (Samet Yalcin/DIA Photo via AP)
Egypt's Mohamed Salah wearing his new Trabzonspor team jersey gestures to supporters as he arrives at the airport in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. (Samet Yalcin/DIA Photo via AP)
He is now settling into his new surroundings and that could be aided by a reunion with Nunez, who is likely to join Trabzonspor on an initial loan.
Talks are ongoing between Al-Hilal and Trabzonspor, with the Saudi club eager to remove the 27-year-old from their wage bill after he was cut from their squad for the Saudi Pro League in January.
The mid-season signing of Karim Benzema was a major blow to Nunez, who had scored seven goals and assisted another five in 22 games in the first half of the campaign but only featured twice more after that.
Mo Salah named Darwin Nunez as his favourite player
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 27, 2023: Liverpool's Darwin Núñez (L) celebrates with team-mate Mohamed Salah after scoring the winning second goal during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. Liverpool won 2-1. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 27, 2023: Liverpool's Darwin Núñez (L) celebrates with team-mate Mohamed Salah after scoring the winning second goal during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. Liverpool won 2-1. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Speaking in a live Q&A in December 2024, Salah named the then-Liverpool No. 9 as his favourite team-mate – even acknowledging that it may not have been a popular decision.
“It was Firmino, now I feel I generally like playing with Nunez,” the Egyptian said.
“A lot of people don’t like him but I like playing with him. I see [the Q&A host] keeps shaking his head not liking [my answer].
“I like playing with him in general. A player with different skills. Not a lot of people understand his game.”
Salah is the player Nunez has lined up alongside more than any other in his career and the pair have combined for 18 goals in their 122 appearances together so far.
That is the sixth-best partnership in Salah’s career, while Roberto Firmino (22) and Sadio Mane (18) are the only players to assist the legendary No. 11 more times than Nunez, who is tied with Trent Alexander-Arnold and the late Diogo Jota on 13.
Trabzonspor kick off their Super Lig campaign on Saturday away to Kasimpasa, before a Europa League playoff against either Polish side Gornik Zabrze or Naby Keita‘s Ferencvaros.
Matthias Jaissle file photo
File photo dated 25-10-2022 of Matthias Jaissle, who is the shock favourite to succeed Eddie Howe as Newcastle head coach. Issue date: Thursday July 30, 2026.
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