Darwin Núñez Nears Return to Portugal as Al Hilal Exit Approaches

Darwin Núñez is on the move again. The Uruguayan striker is closing in on a departure from Al Hilal, with a loan deal in place that includes an option to buy running until June 2027.

For now, he remains with the Saudi club at their pre-season camp in Austria, but his mind is already elsewhere. Núñez has been pushing hard for a way out, and Al Hilal have now given the green light for him to leave under the proposed terms.

Barcelona interest fades

At one stage, Núñez briefly flickered onto Barcelona’s radar. With the Catalan club hunting for a more affordable alternative to Julián Álvarez, the South American centre-forward appeared as a possible solution.

His representatives even offered him to Barça. The idea was studied, the numbers examined, the fit considered. Then it stalled. No bid, no formal move, and the door quietly closed.

The focus in Barcelona remains on Álvarez, even as the reality sets in that prising the Argentine away may prove too complicated.

Portugal calling again

The real movement is coming from elsewhere. According to Saudi outlet Arriyadiyah, Núñez is now close to a return to the Portuguese league, with Porto and Benfica emerging as the leading contenders for his signature.

The 25-year-old initially tried to rip up his contract altogether, seeking a full termination to walk away as a free agent. That idea has been shelved. All sides have instead converged on a loan arrangement.

To make it work, Núñez is ready to give up part of his salary. Al Hilal will still shoulder a portion of his wages for one season, a compromise that keeps the deal alive and attractive to his suitors.

Talks are ongoing, and there is a clear deadline: all parties want the transfer wrapped up before Al Hilal fly back to Saudi Arabia on 3 August. The clock is ticking.

Benfica memories, Liverpool detour

A return to Portugal would not be a step into the unknown. It was at Benfica that Núñez produced the best football of his career.

After leaving Almería, he chose Lisbon over Barcelona, with Benfica paying €25 million to secure his signing. It turned into a spectacular piece of business. His explosive performances, goals, and constant threat in behind eventually earned him a move to Liverpool for more than €75 million.

The Premier League chapter never quite settled into the dominant narrative many expected. Núñez struggled to fully establish himself at Anfield, and his subsequent switch to Saudi Arabia has not brought the stability or impact he might have hoped for either.

Now the idea of going back to a league he knows, in a country where he thrived, holds obvious appeal.

Other suitors left behind

Interest has not been limited to Portugal. Atlanta United from MLS explored a deal. Besiktas also made an approach. Neither club managed to reach an agreement that satisfied all sides.

Barcelona, too, were offered Núñez on loan, but they chose not to advance talks. Their energy remains tied up in the Álvarez pursuit, even as that operation grows increasingly complex.

So the path clears. For Núñez, for Porto, for Benfica. A forward once sold for more than €75 million now looks set to reboot his career in the league that first launched him onto the European stage. The only question that remains is which shade of blue or red he will be wearing when the Portuguese season kicks off.