Darwin Nunez could leave Al-Hilal this summer, a year after departing Liverpool in search of a new club. Despite links with a return to Liverpool and reported interest from Newcastle, the Uruguayan could be heading to Turkey.
Nunez has reportedly agreed personal terms with Trabzonspor, where he could reunite with former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah.
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Salah signed a two-year contract with Trabzonspor following his departure from Liverpool. Nunez is reportedly set to join the Turkish club on an initial loan deal.
Talks between Al-Hilal and Trabzonspor are ongoing, with the Saudi club keen to sell the 27-year-old after he was left out of their Saudi Pro League squad in January.
The signing of former Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema was a major blow to Nunez. He netted seven goals and provided five assists in 22 appearances during the first half of the campaign but made just two more appearances after Benzema’s arrival.
Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has confirmed that talks are ongoing, although the clubs have yet to reach an agreement.
Dogan said via TRT Spor: “Darwin Nunez is a very important player whom our coach also likes. We don’t have an agreement. The talks are ongoing.”
Salah is the player Nunez has played alongside more than anyone else in his career, with the pair combining for 18 goals in 122 appearances together.
That is the sixth-best partnership of Salah’s career. Only Roberto Firmino (22) and Sadio Mane (18) have assisted the legendary Salah more times than Nunez, who is level with Trent Alexander-Arnold and the late Diogo Jota on 13 assists.
Trabzonspor begin their Super Lig campaign away to Kasimpasa on Saturday before facing either Polish side Gornik Zabrze or Naby Keita’s Ferencvaros in the Europa League playoff.
Nunez joined Liverpool from Benfica in June 2022 for an initial £64million fee. He scored 40 goals in 143 appearances for the Reds but started just eight Premier League games during their title-winning 2024/25 campaign.
Ultimately, Nunez left Liverpool having failed to consistently reach the heights expected following his big-money move from Benfica.