Another transfer bomb for Barcelona. The club could sign a star forward
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
Uruguayan striker Darwin Núñez has unexpectedly found himself on the verge of a move to Catalan giants Barcelona.
Details: According to Mundo Deportivo, the name of the former Liverpool and Benfica striker surfaced during negotiations between the Blaugrana and Saudi club Al Hilal, where the parties were initially discussing the outright purchase of defender João Cancelo.
The situation surrounding Núñez in Saudi Arabia has unfolded rapidly and dramatically. Last summer, Al Hilal splashed out €53 million for the Uruguayan, expecting the powerful forward to become the main attacking force in Simone Inzaghi's system. Darwin started brightly, scoring in the local Pro League and the AFC Champions League, but ultimately failed to live up to the club's lofty expectations.
The turning point came in February 2026: Al Hilal shook up the transfer market by signing Karim Benzema. Due to the league's strict foreign player quota, Núñez was left out—stripped of his license and deregistered from the Saudi Pro League for the second half of the season, remaining eligible only for international competitions.
Disappointed with this treatment, the Uruguayan flatly refused to accept a bench role and made a firm decision to return to Europe. The Saudi club and the player have already reached a mutual agreement to terminate his contract early, allowing Darwin to change clubs as a free agent.
Reminder: PSG made Champions League history by matching Barcelona's legendary record.
