Darwin Núñez set for loan return to Portugal

Darwin Núñez is edging towards the exit at Al Hilal, and all roads now point back to a familiar stage: Portugal.

The Uruguayan striker is expected to leave the Saudi club on loan with an option to buy running until June 2027. He remains with Al Hilal at their pre-season camp in Austria for now, but behind the scenes he has been pushing hard for a move. That push has finally been met with approval, with the club green-lighting his departure under the proposed terms.

Portugal calling again

For a while, Núñez’s future seemed to be drifting in several directions at once. His situation put him on the radar of FC Barcelona, who viewed him as a potential low-cost alternative to Julián Álvarez. His representatives even offered him to the Catalan club, and the proposal was studied. Nothing came of it.

Now the picture is much clearer.

According to Saudi outlet Arriyadiyah, Porto and Benfica have emerged as the leading contenders, with Núñez close to a return to the Portuguese league. The idea is straightforward: a loan move, with an option to buy, and a forward desperate to relaunch his career in a league where he once looked unstoppable.

Initially, Núñez tried to negotiate a full contract termination. That route has been abandoned. Instead, the parties have settled on a loan framework under which the player is ready to give up part of his salary, while Al Hilal will continue to cover a portion of his wages for one season. Talks are active, with all sides aiming to have the deal wrapped up before Al Hilal fly back to Saudi Arabia on 3 August.

Benfica memories, Liverpool reality

It is no surprise that Portugal appeals. Núñez played the best football of his career at Benfica after arriving from Almería. Benfica beat Barcelona to his signature at the time, paying €25 million in a move that quickly looked like a bargain. In Lisbon he grew into a fearsome, explosive centre-forward, the kind of striker who could turn a cagey European night with one run in behind.

Those performances did not go unnoticed. Liverpool came calling, committing more than €75 million to bring him to the Premier League. The fee underlined the scale of his rise.

The step up, though, never fully clicked. Núñez struggled to establish himself as a consistent first-choice option in England and then failed to settle during his spell in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal. The goals came in bursts rather than in a steady stream; the confidence that once defined him in Lisbon rarely returned.

A move back to Portugal, to a league and environment he knows, offers something different: stability, rhythm, and a stage where his profile is already proven.

Interest elsewhere, decision clear

Núñez has not been short of suitors. Atlanta United from MLS showed interest, as did Besiktas, but neither club managed to reach an agreement that suited all parties. Barcelona were also given the chance to take him on loan, yet chose not to advance talks.

Their attention remains fixed on Julián Álvarez. Inside the Camp Nou offices there is a growing realisation that landing the Argentine might be beyond reach, but even with that doubt, they have not pivoted back towards Núñez.

That leaves the Portuguese giants in pole position. Porto and Benfica are circling, both aware of what a motivated Núñez could bring to their attack, both conscious that this is a rare market opportunity.

The striker who once tore through defences in Portugal now stands on the brink of a return. The contract details are being hammered out, the clock is ticking towards 3 August, and one question hangs over the deal: will this be the move that finally puts Darwin Núñez back on the trajectory his talent once promised?