Darwin Nunez's Liverpool Future Fades as AC Milan Emerges
Darwin Nunez’s Liverpool story looks set to stay closed. The door that once swung open for a record signing is now, firmly, staying shut.
The Uruguayan forward, currently with his country at the FIFA World Cup, has endured a brutal year since leaving Anfield last summer. He swapped the Premier League for the Saudi Pro League, joining Al-Hilal in a deal worth an initial £46 million and a staggering £400,000 per week. On paper, it looked like a golden move. In reality, it has unravelled.
His No9 stint in Riyadh has been a disaster. Nunez has barely featured since February, frozen out as Al-Hilal reshaped their attack and their priorities. The decisive blow came when the club completed the signing of Karim Benzema, a move that pushed Nunez to the fringes and ultimately off the domestic squad list altogether.
From Liverpool’s record man to surplus in Saudi in barely a year. The drop-off has not gone unnoticed.
Bielsa concerned by “deterioration”
Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa has, according to reports, held reservations over Nunez’s condition for some time. The former Leeds United boss is said to believe the striker has “physically deteriorated” during his long spell without competitive minutes.
For a player whose game is built on power, aggression, and relentless movement, that is a damning assessment. It also helps explain why Al-Hilal are now ready to cut their losses.
Nunez is expected to be available either for free or for a heavily reduced fee, with the Saudi club reportedly willing to rip up his lucrative contract to facilitate a return to Europe. A year ago, that prospect would have sparked a scramble. Now, the market feels more cautious.
Liverpool step back, Milan step forward
The obvious storyline was a Liverpool reunion. A second chance. A revival under familiar lights. But that script is being quietly torn up.
Reports suggest the outgoing Premier League champions are not convinced about gambling on their former forward, even at a knockdown price. Concerns over form, fitness, and the sheer scale of his recent decline have cooled any serious Anfield interest.
While Liverpool hesitate, another giant senses opportunity.
Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan are now emerging as the leading contender. The Italian club, reshaping their squad and eyeing value in a volatile market, have been linked with Nunez once before during his Liverpool days. This time, the timing might finally suit them.
“There have already been some contacts with players attending the World Cup, one of whom is Darwin Nunez,” a report from Milan Vibes states, indicating early groundwork has begun.
The numbers problem
The challenge is clear: the salary.
Nunez currently earns around €2 million per month, a figure far beyond Milan’s existing structure. For a club that has worked hard to maintain a disciplined wage bill, those numbers simply do not fit.
Two paths are being discussed.
“There are two possible solutions: a permanent purchase for a fee significantly lower than the purchase price, allowing the club to choose the salary offer for the player, which would then potentially be favorable to the Rossoneri's salary caps, especially if Rafael Leao, who currently covers the largest salary slot, were to leave,” the Milan Vibes report explains.
The other route is a loan from Al-Hilal, with the Saudi side contributing to Nunez’s wages. That, the same report notes, is considered “highly unlikely.”
So Milan’s play is straightforward: drive the transfer fee down, reset the contract, and bet on revival rather than reputation. For a player who once turned down Serie A – he is reported to regret missing out on a move to Napoli last summer – the league may now offer his best shot at a reboot.
Liverpool, once again, will watch from a distance. The question now is not whether Nunez returns to Anfield, but whether he can still salvage the career that once made him a record signing in the first place.
