Darwin Nunez Removed from Al-Hilal Squad Following Karim Benzema Signing
Former Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez has been axed from his current club Al-Hilal's squad after the high-profile January signing of Karim Benzema. Nunez, who joined the Reds for a substantial £85 million fee in the summer of 2022, endured a challenging spell at Anfield before departing at the end of last season for Al-Hilal in a £46 million transfer.
Nunez's Career Statistics and Recent Struggles
During his time with Liverpool, Nunez scored 40 goals in 143 appearances and was part of the squad that clinched the Premier League title last season. However, his final months at the club saw him make only eight starts in the Premier League during the 2024-25 campaign and just one in 2025, as he slipped down the pecking order under manager Arne Slot.
The striker had expressed a desire to leave Liverpool as early as January, when interest from Saudi Arabia resurfaced, but the Reds opted to retain him to contribute to their successful title pursuit. In June, Liverpool rejected an offer from Napoli of just over £45 million, which was to be paid in instalments starting in the summer of 2026.
Saudi Pro League Foreign Player Restrictions
In Saudi Arabia, Nunez has managed to score seven goals in 23 games for Al-Hilal, who lead the Pro League. However, his opportunities have now become severely limited due to league regulations. Saudi teams are permitted to register only eight foreign players born before 2003 in their 25-man squads, and Nunez has been excluded following Benzema's arrival.
As a result, Nunez is now restricted to playing a maximum of five more games this season, exclusively in the AFC Champions League. This situation mirrors that of his former Liverpool teammate Roberto Firmino, who faced a similar fate at the same club last year. Former Arsenal defender Pablo Mari has also been cut from the squad.
Manager Simone Inzaghi's Difficult Decision
Al-Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi addressed the challenging decision, stating, 'The decision was difficult, but that's the job of a coach. He makes many decisions every day, even in every training session.' He added, 'Nunez and Pablo are good players. I want them in all competitions, but we know the restrictions on registering foreign players. We couldn't register Marcos Leonardo as a player born in Saudi Arabia. Time was of the essence, and I made the difficult decision. I calmly informed the excluded players of my decision.'
On the acquisition of Benzema, Inzaghi remarked, 'Everyone knows Benzema. He's a great champion. He doesn't need to score a hat-trick to show his potential. We're happy to have him in the team - he benefits us in every aspect, not just on the pitch.'
Future Prospects for Nunez
Reports indicate that Nunez has not fully settled in the Middle East and may be seeking a return to European football. His removal from the squad underscores the competitive and regulatory pressures in the Saudi Pro League, where high-profile signings like Benzema can displace other talented players due to strict foreign player quotas.
