the nightmare in Saudi”
After three years as a popular attacking machine at Anfield, Darwin Núñez went to Saudi Arabia for huge sums of money. But the transfer quickly turned into a nightmare. Now the Uruguayan talks openly about the tough months – and reveals that he could hardly play football.
When Darwin Núñez arrived at Liverpool in 2022 for the club’s then-record £85 million, expectations were sky-high. He delivered 66 goals in 146 games, secured the Premier League title and two other trophies – and quickly became a cult hero on Merseyside.
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Then came the summer of 2023. Al-Hilal hammered in a bid of up to £56.6 million, and Núñez accepted. It turned out to be a choice he bitterly regretted.
Sat on the bench – after Benzema arrival
After only five months of playing time in Saudi Arabia, everything came to a halt. The reason? Karim Benzema arrived at the club – and suddenly Núñez was superfluous. Under Simone Inzaghi, he was scrapped from the league squad and pushed out into the cold.
“The last six months at Al-Hilal were incredibly tough for me and my family, because I could no longer play matches. Honestly, I would never wish on anyone to go through what I experienced. We footballers want to compete, play and enjoy what we do – and I didn’t get the opportunity to do that,” Núñez said in a rare and honest interview.
My family saved me
The 27-year-old does not hide the fact that it was his family who sustained him during the polar night.
“I got through that difficult period thanks to my family. They were always by my side. Every day at work, I tried to show up with a smile and give everything I had, even though I couldn’t compete. I just wanted to help the team as best I could.
The nightmare also had consequences at national team level. Núñez struggled mightily during the World Cup and failed to score a single goal as Uruguay were eliminated already in the group stage.
Now: A new start and new hope
After one year at Al-Hilal, with only 24 games in total, Núñez secured a loan deal with promoted team Al-Diriyah. And there he has finally found his way back to joy. In his debut, he scored two goals.
“Today I’m here, happy to compete again – and score again. I would have been happy with one goal, but two make me overwhelmed with joy,” he says and continues:
“I want to congratulate the team for their efforts, especially considering the heat – it makes it tough to play. Thank you to my family, my wife and my kids, who were always there and didn’t let me get discouraged during that difficult time. It was hard, but I always said that the sun comes out after the storm. Today I’m here, I’m competing and I’m happy – and that’s what counts right now.
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