Darwin Nunez dropped from Al-Hilal squad after Benzema arrival
Darwin Nunez has been left out of Al-Hilal’s Saudi Pro League squad following the signing of Karim Benzema, dealing a major blow to the former Liverpool striker.
According to Chris Burton of GOAL, the 26-year-old Uruguay international has been omitted due to foreign player restrictions, with Benzema’s registration forcing a reshuffle.
The report claims: “Former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has been ruthlessly removed from Al-Hilal’s squad after the arrival of Karim Benzema.”
Foreign player limits cost Nunez his place
Saudi Pro League rules allow clubs to register only eight foreign players born before 2003 in their 25-man squads.
With Benzema taking up one of those slots after his move from Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal no longer have space for Nunez in domestic competition.
As a result, Nunez will now be limited to appearances in the AFC Champions League, while facing extended spells out of action in league matches unless circumstances change.
Inzaghi explains tough decision
Head coach Simone Inzaghi acknowledged the difficulty of the call.
“It was a hard decision, but that is part of being a coach. Nunez and Pablo are quality players, but we have restrictions on foreign registrations. I spoke to the players calmly and explained my choice.”
Numbers tell a mixed story
Nunez’s 2025/26 league statistics show a season of contrasts:
16 appearances
6 goals
4 assists
11.48 xG
14 big chances missed
While his goal and assist return appears solid, his missed opportunities highlight ongoing concerns about his finishing — a theme familiar from his time at Liverpool.
As once described by Roddy Collins: “Nunez was mad as a brush, but he caused chaos.” However, chaos only works when it leads to consistent output.
A sudden downturn
Just days ago, reports linked Nunez with a potential move to Fenerbahce, underlining how quickly his situation has deteriorated.
After leaving Liverpool as a Premier League winner — with 40 goals in 143 appearances — this marks a sharp and disappointing shift.
Despite respectable numbers, his performances have lacked conviction, and now, with Benzema favoured and squad slots limited, Nunez faces another uncertain chapter.
For a striker reliant on momentum and confidence, watching from the sidelines may be the biggest setback of all
