Al Hilal target loan for Darwin Nunez to rebuild his European market value

Turkish reports say Al Hilal are exploring an overseas loan for Darwin Nunez as part of a plan to restore the striker’s market value during ongoing negotiations with Trabzonspor.

Nunez joined Al Hilal from Liverpool for €53m, but his valuation has fallen sharply since moving to Saudi Arabia. The Uruguay international has also been marginalised by Al Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi after the club signed Karim Benzema in January.

According to Turkish website 61saat, Al Hilal are seeking a move that would allow Nunez to regain his form and increase his value before the club decides whether to sell him permanently or bring him back into their squad.

“Al Hilal’s plan for Darwin Nunez, who is a target for Trabzonspor, has been revealed,” the report said. “The Saudi club is seeking a way to increase Nunez’s value, which has fallen sharply in Saudi Arabia.”

The report added that Nunez’s market value had dropped from about €35m to approximately €20m. That represents a decrease of €15m in one year, making him the player in the Saudi Pro League whose valuation has fallen the most.

Matteo Retegui has experienced the next-largest decline, losing €10m from his market value, while Theo Hernandez’s valuation has dropped by €8m.

Trabzonspor offer loan route

The Turkish report said Al Hilal were considering a loan to an overseas club to reduce part of the financial burden created by Nunez’s large salary and to give him an opportunity to re-establish himself in the European market.

“With the aim of compensating for this major decline in the player’s value, Al Hilal are working on sending him on loan to a club abroad as a solution to ease some of the burden of his high salary and to market Nunez again in the European market,” it said.

Trabzonspor have since entered the discussions and made an offer for the 26-year-old striker.

“If Darwin Nunez signs for Trabzonspor, he will have the opportunity to play in the Turkish Super Lig and European competitions, and his value will increase again through his performances,” 61saat reported.

“This situation would allow Al Hilal, who are planning either to sell the player permanently or retain him in their squad in the future, to recover some of the financial losses they have suffered. The club’s management is expected to complete the deal soon, a move that has generated excitement among the supporters.”

Reports in Turkey had previously claimed that Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, who joined Trabzonspor a week ago, had given a positive opinion of Nunez and welcomed the possibility of being reunited with his former Liverpool team-mate.

The pair played together at Liverpool before Nunez moved to Al Hilal.

According to Trabzonspor journalist Hasan Tuncel, the Turkish club have offered €8m a year to secure Nunez’s services. The striker is reported to earn about €20m annually from Al Hilal.

The proposed move would therefore give Trabzonspor access to a high-profile forward while allowing Al Hilal to reduce its wage commitments and assess whether regular football in Turkey can help restore Nunez’s standing in the transfer market.