Darwin Núñez's Loan Move Hijacked by Al Diriyah
Darwin Núñez’s next move looked simple. Then the ground shifted.
For days, the expectation was clear: the former Liverpool striker would head to Trabzonspor, reunite with Mohamed Salah and spearhead an ambitious project in Turkiye. A loan from Al Hilal was lined up, travel plans were in place, and the narrative almost wrote itself.
Then Al Diriyah walked in.
Loan to Trabzonspor hijacked
On the final day of Al Hilal’s training camp in Austria, Darwin Núñez was left out of the squad. Belgian journalist Sacha Tovalieri reported that the omission came with a purpose: the Uruguayan was due to fly to Turkiye the following day to complete a loan move to Trabzonspor.
That was the plan. Until it wasn’t.
Saudi Pro League rivals Al Diriyah opened talks with Al Hilal and tabled their own proposal for a loan deal. The intervention has effectively hijacked Trabzonspor’s move, with Núñez now expected to join Al Diriyah instead of linking up with Salah on the Black Sea coast.
For Trabzonspor, it’s a brutal twist. For Al Diriyah, it’s a statement.
From Liverpool record deal to Saudi shuffle
Núñez left Liverpool last year for around $62 million (£46 million), three years after his big-money arrival from Benfica. His time at Anfield never quite settled into the relentless rhythm many expected, and Liverpool chose to reset their attack.
The club moved aggressively in the market, bringing in Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike last summer as part of a reshaped forward line. The fees reflected the pressure: Isak cost around $169 million (£125 million), a staggering outlay that demands an equally towering season.
So far, neither Isak nor Ekitike has fully hit their stride at Anfield. The Frenchman’s situation is even more complicated, with a long-term injury expected to keep him out for several more months. That leaves Isak as the only fully fit central striker.
European football analyst Julian Laurens summed up the concern this week.
He argued Liverpool still need another option up front while Ekitike recovers, especially if Cody Gakpo leaves. Strip the squad back and, as Laurens pointed out, you are “only left really with Isak as your nine”.
Yes, there are tactical tweaks. Federico Chiesa could be repurposed. Dominik Szoboszlai or Curtis Jones could operate as false nines. But those are solutions born from flexibility, not depth.
Laurens floated the idea of a short-term loan, likening it to the Ronald Araujo deal Liverpool did in defense, as a way to plug the gap until Ekitike returns. The forward line is not the only area under the microscope either. He also highlighted the need for a midfield rebuild to suit Andoni Iraola’s high-energy, aggressive style — a sharp departure from Arne Slot’s approach — questioning whether the current options truly fit the new manager’s demands.
Salah’s new stage in Turkiye
While Núñez’s path bends back toward Saudi Arabia, Salah has already embraced his new world.
The Egyptian superstar received a rapturous welcome when Trabzonspor unveiled him, and his contract immediately made him the highest-paid player in Turkiye. The expectations are just as big as the paycheck.
Salah made his debut last weekend, coming off the bench in a 1-1 draw with Kasimpasa. He joined a squad dotted with familiar names to Premier League followers: former Southampton striker Paul Onuachu leads the line, while ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana anchors things at the back.
A reunion with Núñez would have added another layer to that story. Instead, Salah’s revival in Turkiye and Núñez’s attempt to reassert himself in the Saudi Pro League will now run on parallel tracks, not a shared one.
One has his stage. The other is still fighting to prove he belongs at the very top.
