Since leaving Liverpool last summer, it hasn’t been plain sailing for Darwin Nunez at Al-Hilal.
A sale was always going to happen, but the Uruguayan likely had greater expectations for life after Liverpool.
Nunez has grown frustrated with his role. It’s strange because he has started 14 of their 20 league games, scoring six times.
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But clearly issues are bubbling under the surface, especially after what Al-Hilal have just done.
Darwin Nunez dropped from league squad at Al-Hilal
The league-leaders have taken action that not many were expecting, cutting Nunez from the roster for domestic competition.
That’s according to Saudi newspaper Al-Youm (via YS Scores), who reveal that Al-Hilal management have ‘removed’ the former Liverpool star from the ‘local roster’.
He is still eligible for the AFC Champions League, but this is a real sign that he isn’t part of their long-term plans.
Nunez almost made a return to Europe in January with heavy interest from Turkey. He preferred the ‘stability’ of Al-Hilal, though that seems to be gone now.
There is an obvious reason for these developments that wasn’t mentioned in the report, centered around a Ballon d’Or winner.
Karim Benzema could spell the end for Darwin Nunez at Al-Hilal
Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema swapped Al-Ittihad for Al-Hilal in January.
That led to talks between Mo Salah and Al-Ittihad, but that’s a separate story.
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For Nunez, it’s bad news given the pedigree of the Frenchman. Benzema is coming in to be the main man, and the actions of the club point to the Uruguayan as a casualty.
This isn’t the end for the Anfield cult hero, who still has years to give at the top level.
He might not end up at a club like Liverpool again, but we certainly haven’t seen the last of, or the best of Nunez.
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