Ex-Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez takes major risk with icy ownership gesture after Saudi squad snub

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Former Liverpool frontman Darwin Nunez appeared to respond on the field to a decision to cut him from Al-Hilal's Saudi Pro League squad

DAMMAM, SAUDI ARABIA - OCTOBER 18: Darwin Nunez of Al Hilal celebrates after scoring the his team's fifth goal during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Ettifaq and Al Hilal at Ego Stadium on October 18, 2025 in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
Darwin Nunez of Al Hilal celebrates (Image credit: Getty Images)

Liverpool parted company with Darwin Nunez over the summer after three years of the Uruguayan at Anfield.

The 26-year-old was somewhat hit-and-miss on Merseyside despite an impressive goal record at Almeria and Benfica before moving to the Premier League.

Darwin Nunez appears to hit back at Saudi ownership

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Darwin Nunez of Team Al-Hilal FC celebrates scoring their first goal during the Saudi Pro League match between Al Hilal and Al Qadsiah at Kingdom Arena on September 13, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)

Darwin Nunez has only scored six league goals since making the switch to Saudi Arabia (Image credit: Getty Images)

Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt and Newcastle United, respectively, after impressive stints with their former clubs, which left Nunez out of favour under Arne Slot, therefore a beneficial move for all parties was sought.

Nunez eventually joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, one of four teams majority owned by the Kingdom's Public Investment Fund (PIF).

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His start to life in the Middle East didn't exactly go according to plan, netting six goals and registering four assists in 16 outings, but it got worse during the January transfer window as the Uruguay international was axed from the club's domestic squad to make room for veteran forward Karim Benzema.

Saudi Arabian clubs can only name eight foreigners born before 2003 in their 25-man squads, and Nunez was the unfortunate party left out.

He is still permitted to play in Asian Champions League matches, and netted a brace for Simone Inzaghi's side against Al-Wahda on Monday evening.

After scoring, the Uruguayan appeared to turn and face the main stand at Al-Hilal's Kingdom Arena, directing an icy gaze towards the section of the stadium where the club's key decision-makers sit.

Video of the incident circulated on social media with many fans speculating Nunez's stare could be related to the club's recent decision to omit him from the Pro League squad.

Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez has been linked with a move away from Anfield

Darwin Nunez during his Liverpool days (Image credit: Getty Images)

Currently, Al-Hilal's Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, Malcom, Theo Hernandez, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Pablo Mari, Yassine Bounou and Benzema make up the club's eight over-age, overseas player quota.

In FourFourTwo's opinion, Nunez's reaction is unlikely to ingratiate himself with the Al-Hilal hierarchy, which risks his long-term future at the club.

Nunez could return to Europe in the summer but would likely have to forfeit a portion of his Saudi earnings depending on where he is registered as a tax resident.

Joe Donnohue
Joe Donnohue
Senior Digital Writer

Joe joined FourFourTwo as senior digital writer in July 2025 after five years covering Leeds United in the Championship and Premier League. Joe's 'Mastermind' specialist subject is 2000s-era Newcastle United having had a season ticket at St. James' Park for 10 years before relocating to Leeds and later London. Joe takes a keen interest in youth football, covering PL2, U21 Euros, as well as U20 and U17 World Cups in the past, in addition to hosting the industry-leading football recruitment-focused SCOUTED podcast. He is also one of the lucky few to have 'hit top bins' as a contestant on Soccer AM. It wasn't a shin-roller.

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