Any dedicated football fan has likely heard the name of Darwin Núñez. Núñez is a well-known footballer from Uruguay who plays as a striker at Liverpool: he has fans all over the world, which is why his absence from the recent matchday squad triggered an unstoppable wave of rumors. Liverpool is already experiencing squad changes, and now with the reports claiming that Núñez will no longer be a part of the club, the interest in him is at its all-time high.
Sports fans tend to be fascinated by the slightest alterations in teams since they see it as a high-stakes gamble. Trying to predict how a change might affect the game’s flow is as thrilling as playing online pokies for real money and determining where the new cards will lead you. Unpredictability triggers excitement, but you have no idea whether it’s going to pay off until the very last moment. Núñez’s departure can lead to positive changes or become a major weakness for Liverpool.
So, is he really leaving? Let’s try to separate rumors from facts.
Background and Context
Núñez became a part of Liverpool in 2022, having transferred from Benfica for a record fee of €75 million. Naturally, this caused quite a stir in the football community, with fans being eager to see how this change would affect the club.
Indeed, Núñez might have started out as a star, but his performance has been consistently lacking for the past season. Take a look at these stats.
- Núñez made 36 appearances during the 2024-2025 season
- Out of them all, he scored only 6 goals
- He provided only 5 assists
These results don’t differ from the performance of average players, so based on this fact alone, it is clear that Liverpool’s investment in Núñez hasn’t been paying off. To top it off, there has been a recent change in management, with Arne Slot coming in to replace Jurgen Klopp, who was managing Liverpool since 2015.
It became clear at an early stage that Slot wasn’t a big fan of Núñez. He showed favor to other players, which left Núñez with reduced playing time.
Current Situation
Many reports indicate that Núñez was told he would leave Liverpool during the upcoming summer. Both David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano confirmed that his departure is inevitable, and further events only solidified their words.
Núñez took part in only seven Premier League matches this season, and most of his appearances have been limited to those as a substitute. Most importantly, he did not participate in the latest crucial match between Liverpool and West Ham United, which is a glaring sign of a lack of trust from his manager, Slot. With such an obvious reduced playing time, it is clear that Núñez no longer has a future in Liverpool.
Potential Destinations
Money and excitement are a combination that no one can easily reject. This fact holds true for people regardless of their location, be it Australia, the US, or the UAE. A regular person can try their luck at Goldwin casino Australia and enjoy the winnings fueled by intense anticipation. At the same time, a star footballer like Núñez can meet his needs by making a deal with a club that will offer him a mix of great pay and increased playing time.
As a journalist David Lynch established, while Núñez will definitely leave Liverpool, there is still strong interest in him coming from other clubs. Here are the ones that are linked to him at the moment:
- Al-Hilal (Saudi Pro League). This club prepares an offer of €60 million for Núñez, which signifies a potentially large and lucrative contract.
- Al-Nassr (Saudi Pro League). Another club from the Saudi Pro League is hopeful about acquiring Núñez for themselves; they already made a €60 million offer for him in January, and now they might repeat it again.
- Atlético Madrid (La Liga). With Ángel Correa possibly separating from Atletico Madrid this summer, there is a strong possibility that the club will pursue Núñez as they did in the past, although the club’s CEO denied this possibility for now.
A notable fact is that for Saudi clubs, the Club World Cup transfer window lasts from June 1 to June 10. It means that both Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr might be in a rush to make their offers to Liverpool.
Reasons for Departure
Now, with all the facts on the table, what can we say about Núñez’s upcoming departure from Liverpool? What are the reasons behind it? Here is a quick summary.
- Considering the stats we shared above, it is obvious that Núñez has been underperforming, especially considering the record sum Liverpool paid for his acquisition.
- A new manager Slot, with his tactical approach and unique style, gives clear preference to other players.
- With a new manager comes a new strategy, so Liverpool is looking to refresh its attacking lineup and invest in a star that will suit the club better, taking its performance to a higher level.
- Núñez himself is likely frustrated with the current situation; such distrust from a manager cannot be good for his self-esteem, so even if Slot were to suddenly change his mind, Núñez might still be interested in pursuing other clubs that will value him better.
One way or another, we are unlikely to see Núñez shine as a part of Liverpool again.
What Happens Next?
We can expect to get the definite news about Núñez’s departure and transfer in the early summer of 2025. As you’ve learned, Saudi clubs have the first 10 days of June to make their offer; the Premier League’s window will re-open on June 16. Considering that Liverpool needs time to hunt down a new member of their club and reshape their forward line, chances are, Núñez’s fate as a player will be decided between these dates.
Stay tuned for updates, observe what happens, and always do research to tell baseless rumors and facts apart. Either way, this and the next Premier League seasons are promising to be interesting.
