Over the past six months, he has scored just 9 goals in 24 appearances, and he has now been left out of Al Hilal’s squad for the rest of the Saudi Professional League season.
Saudi clubs can only name 8 foreign players born before 2003 in their 25-man squads, and Nunez, as widely reported last weekend, did not make the cut. Instead, 38-year-old Karim Benzema, who arrived from domestic rivals Al-Ittihad, has effectively taken his place.
Nevertheless, Nunez remains eligible for the AFC Champions League. The knockout stage begins next month, but he scored a brace on Monday night to help his team beat Al Wahda 2–1 and secure top spot in the West section of the group stage.
His limited domestic game time threatens not only a disappointing first season in the Gulf but also his chances of representing Uruguay at the World Cup this summer.
Head coach Marcelo Bielsa is unlikely to drop the star striker even without regular club minutes, although stranger things have happened during the Argentine coach’s long career.
In October’s friendly matches, Bielsa fielded a young‑leaning squad as he continues to search for future talents. While Nunez remains the most senior and experienced striker in the squad following the absence of Suárez and Cavani, the lack of meaningful minutes could seriously harm his preparation in the months before the World Cup.
Fellow Saudi side Al Nassr tried to sign Nunez last January, but Liverpool blocked the deal as they did not want to disrupt their squad during a title push – which Slot’s side eventually won.
After being allowed to leave in the summer, the move seemed ideal: it boosted his earnings and aimed to restore his confidence ahead of the new season.
“It was a difficult decision, but that’s the job of a coach. He has to make many decisions every day, even in every training session,” head coach Simone Inzaghi said in a press conference last week when asked about Nunez.
“Nunez and Pablo are excellent players. I wish they could play in all matches, but we know the limits on foreign player registration. Time was short, so I made this tough choice. I calmly informed the players who missed out.”
The transfer window is now closed across Europe, limiting the chances of a surprise move, although MLS has a deadline of March 26 due to its February–December calendar.
However, the most likely scenario is that Nunez will stay until the summer, then consider a return to Europe after the World Cup.
If he remains in Uruguay’s squad, the tournament could give him a chance to remind the world of the talent that convinced Liverpool to pay £64 million for him in 2022, after he scored 34 goals in 41 games for Benfica.
He is still relatively young and possesses traits many clubs desire. At Liverpool, poor finishing and struggles with tactical instructions reduced his playing time, but he also delivered several crucial moments.
He remains popular in the dressing room. While his emotions often put him under pressure, they can sometimes unlock his extraordinary potential.
