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Darwin Nunez’s Future Hangs in Balance Amid Liverpool Uncertainty

Striker’s summer exit growing more likely as Slot era takes shape

There’s rarely smoke without fire in football. When Fabrizio Romano retweets himself, it’s not just filler for the timeline — it’s the signal. And on Friday evening, that signal couldn’t have been clearer: Darwin Nunez, Liverpool’s erratic yet enthralling forward, is on his way out.

Romano’s update — “The plan is clear since February and it hasn’t changed: Darwin Nunez, expected to leave Liverpool in the summer. After offer turned down by the club in January from Al Nassr, all options will be considered in the upcoming months. Darwin, also open to new chapter.” — laid it bare.

The Uruguayan’s cryptic black-and-white training photos posted earlier in the day hinted at something deeper. One shot, in particular, captured him lost in thought — and it wasn’t the first time his body language had become the subject of fan and media scrutiny.

Tensions, Transfers and Turning Points

It’s not hard to trace the arc. Nunez was heavily linked with a winter switch to Saudi Arabia, with Al Nassr offering around €70 million — a tempting bid Liverpool reportedly rebuffed. But now, that same move looks to be firmly back on the table as the summer looms.

Romano’s February tweet, which he resuscitated this week, provided the clearest indication yet: “Darwin Nunez’s full focus until July remains on Liverpool after Al Nassr deal collapsed in January… but then he has strong chances to leave the club. Nunez’s exit in the summer is a concrete possibility, already discussed in recent months.”

New manager Arne Slot’s arrival means a fresh tactical approach, and Nunez, despite his tireless running and physical presence, has struggled to find his rhythm this term. He missed last week’s match, prompting whispers of a bust-up in training — though Slot moved quickly to quash them.

“He didn’t feel himself the day before the match, and he went inside and he wasn’t able to be part of the team the day after,” Slot explained. “He did leave the pitch because he didn’t feel himself.”

Promise Unfulfilled

Signed under Jurgen Klopp for a hefty €75 million in 2022, Nunez was meant to be the next great No. 9. He’d torn through defences in Portugal with Benfica, but in England, it’s been a tale of flashes rather than fires.

Five Premier League goals this season isn’t a return befitting the price tag — and when the advanced stats are added to the mix, the decline becomes clearer. His non-penalty expected goals plus assists per 90 minutes has dropped from 0.95 to 0.55 since last season. That kind of downturn can’t be ignored.

Still, had Mohamed Salah accepted the riches of the Saudi Pro League and departed Anfield, Nunez may have been the one stepping into the vacuum. Instead, the Egyptian signed a two-year extension — and the Uruguayan’s future became that much more uncertain.

Decisions Ahead

With Liverpool entering a new chapter under Slot, it’s becoming evident that Nunez might not be part of the long-term picture. There’s admiration for his raw attributes, but patience is thinning as inconsistency continues to shadow potential.

What happens next could define his career. One final push to stake a claim at Anfield, or a big-money move elsewhere to start again? Either way, don’t bet against more cryptic posts — and don’t ignore the next Romano tweet.

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