Darwin Núñez Nears Loan Return to Portugal from Al Hilal
Darwin Núñez is preparing to walk away from Al Hilal, with the Uruguayan striker closing in on a loan move that would include an option to buy running until June 2027.
He is still with the Saudi champions at their pre-season camp in Austria, but in reality his mind has already moved on. Núñez has been pushing hard for an exit, and now has the green light from the club to leave under the proposed arrangement.
Barcelona interest fades
His situation quickly put him on the radar of FC Barcelona, who viewed him as a possible low-cost alternative to Julian Álvarez. His representatives even offered him to the Catalan club, prompting internal discussions at Barça.
Those talks never went beyond that. No bid, no formal move. Just an option considered, then parked.
Portugal back in sight
Now the path is much clearer. According to Saudi outlet Arriyadiyah, Núñez is closing in on a return to the Portuguese league, with Porto and Benfica emerging as the main contenders.
Portugal is familiar ground. It is where his career exploded, where he turned from promising forward into a €75 million striker.
Initially, Núñez tried to rip up his Al Hilal contract altogether. That idea has been shelved. Instead, all sides have settled on a loan structure. To make it work, the 25-year-old is ready to give up part of his salary, while Al Hilal will continue to cover a portion of his wages for one season.
Talks are active. The aim is clear: get the deal done before Al Hilal fly back to Saudi Arabia on 3 August.
Benfica memories, Porto pressure
Núñez’s best football came in Lisbon. Benfica beat Barcelona to his signature when they paid €25 million to Almería, a fee that soon looked like a bargain. His performances in Portugal – relentless running, goals in big European nights, the sense of a striker on the rise – earned him that blockbuster move to Liverpool.
The Premier League step never fully clicked. He showed flashes, but never truly nailed down the starring role expected of him. The move to Saudi Arabia then failed to provide the reset he needed, and he has struggled to settle at Al Hilal.
A return to Portugal offers something different: familiarity, rhythm, and a league that knows exactly how to use him. For Porto, he would be the statement forward to lead a new cycle. For Benfica, he would be the prodigal No. 9 coming home to a fanbase that already knows his name and his game.
Other offers fall away
Núñez has not been short of suitors. Atlanta United from MLS and Turkish side Besiktas both made approaches, but neither could find an agreement that suited player and club.
Barcelona, for their part, were formally offered the chance to take him on loan. They listened. Then moved on. Their attention remains locked on Julian Álvarez, even as the reality grows that a deal for the Argentine may prove out of reach.
So Núñez waits in Austria, training with Al Hilal while his next move is shaped in meeting rooms thousands of kilometres away. All roads now point back to Portugal. The only real question left is whether he walks out at the Dragão in blue and white, or returns to the Estádio da Luz in red.
