Darwin Nunez lines up European return as Al Hilal loan exit nears completion

Darwin Nunez is close to ending his short spell with Al Hilal, with the Uruguay striker expected to leave the Saudi Pro League side on loan with an option to buy running until June 2027.

Sources with knowledge of the talks say Nunez, who is currently with Al Hilal’s squad at their pre-season training camp in Austria, has been pushing hard for a move and has already secured initial approval from the club’s hierarchy to leave on loan.

The 25-year-old initially asked to terminate his contract outright, but the two parties have instead reached a compromise. Under the emerging agreement, Nunez will give up part of his salary, while Al Hilal will continue to contribute to a portion of his wages for one season.

Nunez is understood to be determined to return to European football and join a club capable of challenging for major honours. His representatives have recently offered him to Barcelona, with the Catalan club studying the proposal internally but stopping short of making a formal move.

Portuguese giants lead race

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Nunez’s most likely destination is the Portuguese league, where both Porto and Benfica have registered serious interest in securing his services.

All parties are thought to be keen on reaching an agreement before Al Hilal’s squad fly back to Saudi Arabia on 3 August, a timeline that is shaping negotiations in the coming days.

A return to Benfica is believed to be Nunez’s preferred option. The forward enjoyed one of the most productive spells of his career at the Estadio da Luz after joining from Almeria in a deal worth €25m, when the Portuguese club beat Barcelona to his signature.

Nunez’s performances in Lisbon propelled him into the European spotlight and led to a move to Liverpool for a fee in excess of €75m, reflecting his rapid rise and status as one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe at the time.

Mixed fortunes in England and Saudi Arabia

Despite that high-profile transfer, the Uruguay international struggled to fully adapt to life in the Premier League and was unable to establish the consistency expected of him at Liverpool.

His subsequent switch to the Saudi Pro League has also fallen short of expectations, with Nunez failing to find the stability he had been seeking in his spell with Al Hilal.

Nunez has received other approaches during this summer’s window, including interest from Atalanta and Besiktas. However, talks with both clubs did not lead to an agreement.

Barcelona’s interest, meanwhile, remains at the stage of an internal discussion rather than an active negotiation, with no official offer submitted so far.

For now, the focus is on finalising a loan deal that would take Nunez back to Portugal, with Benfica and Porto vying for a player eager to relaunch his European career away from Al Hilal.