February 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\nFor a player who cost Liverpool an initial \u00a364 million in 2022, the fall from grace is as steep as it is sudden. In fact, Nunez went from leading the line for the champions of England to being deemed surplus to requirements in the Middle East. Now, he is a man in limbo.<\/p>\n
The Benzema effect: out with the new, in with the old<\/p>\n
Simone Inzaghi, now at the helm of the Saudi giants, has made a cold, clinical calculation. Despite Nunez contributing 12 goal involvements (7 goals, 5 assists) in his 23 appearances, he was the easiest card to discard when Benzema\u2019s move became a reality.<\/p>\n
Nunez now faces a grueling four-month freeze. While he remains eligible for the AFC Champions League, the opportunities are threadbare.<\/p>\n
Al-Hilal has already secured qualification for the Round of 16. Even a deep run to the final would offer Nunez a maximum of only five more appearances this season.<\/p>\n
It is a situation eerily reminiscent of former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino\u2019s struggle at Al-Ahli exactly a year ago. Firmino was similarly axed from the domestic squad to make room for new arrivals. However, he found redemption by captaining his side to Asian Champions League glory.<\/p>\n
But for a 26-year-old Nunez with a World Cup on the horizon, \u201climited minutes\u201d is a phrase that sounds more like a threat to his international career than a temporary setback.<\/p>\n
The statistical breakdown<\/p>\n
CategoryLiverpool Career (2022\u20132025)Al-Hilal Career (2025\u2013Present)Appearances14323Goals407Assists265Major HonoursPremier League, League Cup0Initial Transfer Fee\u00a364m\u00a346.2m<\/p>\n
Why Liverpool cashed in<\/p>\n
Nunez\u2019s three-year stay on Merseyside was never boring. He departed having scored 40 goals in 143 appearances, a respectable return. Yet, one forever shadowed by the \u201cwhat ifs\u201d of missed big chances.<\/p>\n
At Liverpool, Nunez was the lightning rod for the \u201cchaos\u201d narrative. Under Arne Slot\u2019s more measured regime, Nunez helped secure a historic league title. Eventually, however, he found himself down the pecking order behind the more clinical former red Diogo Jota. After his passing, Liverpool\u2019s summer recruitment required new attack and in came Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.<\/p>\n
When Al-Hilal came calling in August 2025, the deal which could eventually rise to \u00a356.6 million was seen as a way for Liverpool to recoup significant funds. At the same time, they could move in a different tactical direction.<\/p>\n
Now, that fresh start has hit a brick wall. Liverpool chiefs will be monitoring the situation with concern. Much of the \u00a310 million in add-ons negotiated in the sale depend on Nunez meeting appearance and goal milestones. Those targets are now mathematically impossible to reach this season.<\/p>\n
No escape: the Istanbul lifeline snaps<\/p>\n
The closing of the Turkish transfer window has only deepened Nunez\u2019s crisis. Fenerbahce, managed by Jose Mourinho, reportedly launched an eleventh-hour bid to bring the Uruguayan to Istanbul on loan. <\/p>\n
Turkish journalist Sercan Hamzaoglu<\/a> claimed an offer was on the table. For a moment, it seemed the \u201cBielsa favorite\u201d would find a temporary home in the Super Lig alongside former Premier League stars.<\/p>\nHowever, the deadline passed on February 6 without a signature. Sources suggest that while Al-Hilal were open to the move, Nunez himself was hesitant to walk away from his lucrative \u20ac16 million-a-year contract so soon.<\/p>\n
With the Turkish window shut and major European leagues long since closed, Nunez\u2019s options are dwindling. Links to Argentinian giants River Plate persist, fuelled by reports that Marcelo Gallardo is keen to bring the striker to Buenos Aires on loan. But with River Plate\u2019s finances tight, a deal remains a long shot.<\/p>\n
A world cup at risk<\/p>\n
For Marcelo Bielsa and the Uruguay national team, Nunez\u2019s lack of competitive action is a disaster. The striker is the focal point of the national team\u2019s post-Suarez era. <\/p>\n
To head into a World Cup having played only a handful of continental games since Christmas is a gamble neither player nor country can afford.<\/p>\n
As it stands, the man who once thrived on the unpredictability of the Premier League is now trapped in the most predictable of circumstances. He is a victim of a league that moves faster than even he can sprint.<\/p>\n
The \u201cDarwin era\u201d at Anfield ended with a trophy. His era in Saudi Arabia might end before it ever truly began.<\/p>\n
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