“Núñez expelled from the Al-Hilal squad after Benzema’s arrival.”

Darwin Nunez, the Uruguayan forward, saw his dream of shining at Al-Hilal crumble following the star arrival of Karim Benzema. The entry of the famous Ballon d’Or winner into the Saudi team resulted in a drastic decision: Nunez was excluded from the squad that will compete in the Saudi League, a severe blow for the former Liverpool player.

According to reports from Chris Burton of GOAL, the 26-year-old was left off the list of foreign players due to registration restrictions, as Al-Hilal can only include eight players born before 2003 in their 25-man squad. With Benzema securing one of those spots following his transfer from Al-Ittihad, there is no longer room for the former Liverpool number 9 in league matches.

The article notes: “Forward Darwin Nunez was brutally removed from the Al-Hilal squad following the arrival of Karim Benzema.” The situation is a grim reflection of the challenges the Uruguayan faces in his new journey.

Although he can still play in the AFC Champions League, the reality is that Nunez now finds himself relegated to the bench in domestic competitions, unless a turnaround occurs. Coach Simone Inzaghi commented on the difficult decision: “The choice was complicated, but it is part of a coach’s job. Nunez and Pablo are good players… we understand the restrictions regarding the registration of foreign players… I informed the excluded players calmly.”

Although Nunez left Liverpool for a significant fee of £46 million after helping secure the Premier League title, his adaptation in Saudi Arabia has not been without challenges. With six goals and four assists in 16 league matches, his statistics may seem respectable. However, a deeper analysis reveals a persistent problem: a total of 11.48 expected goals and 14 big chances missed highlight the lack of efficiency that was already a concern during his time at Anfield.

Roddy Collins, Nunez’s former coach, once described him as “crazy, but causing chaos.” However, that “chaos” is only acceptable when it brings consistent results. Nunez’s situation has become even more unstable with rumors that Fenerbahçe is interested in signing him, demonstrating how his position at Al-Hilal has become vulnerable in the blink of an eye.

Leaving Liverpool as a league champion with 40 goals in 143 appearances, Nunez’s current scenario represents a dramatic turnaround. While he has had a statistically reasonable season, the lack of conviction in his performance is alarming. Now, with Benzema as the preferred option and limited spots available, Darwin Nunez finds himself once again on the sidelines, which may be the biggest concern of all for a forward who thrives on rhythm and confidence. The question that lingers is: what will be the next step for this talented player?