Inzaghi plots a bold roster shake: Nuñez on the chopping block at Al Hilal
17 December 2025
What’s happening
Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, in charge of Saudi side Al Hilal, plans to drop Uruguayan striker Darwin Núñez from the club's domestic roster.
According to Saudi newspaper Al-Yawm, Inzaghi is moving toward excluding Núñez from the first team squad because of recurring injuries; he has appeared in 11 matches, scoring five goals and providing two assists.
The Italian coach is weighing sidelining the 26-year-old as he looks to register Portuguese star Joao Cancelo in the squad instead.
Nuñez recently trained with Al Hilal's under-21s ahead of possible inclusion in the domestic list after being kept for Asia.
By contrast, Núñez is expected to feature for Al Hilal in the Elite AFC Champions League list or be loaned for six months, as he seeks regular playing time ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Nuñez joined Al Hilal last summer from Liverpool on a contract through June 30, 2028.
Implications for Al Hilal
The move could free a roster space for Cancelo and reshape the squad ahead of domestic league games and Asia's Elite competition.
Núñez’s status remains fluid: potential inclusion in Asia's Elite list or a six-month loan as he seeks regular playing time and a shot at the 2026 World Cup.
He arrived from Liverpool last summer on a contract through 2028, and his future will depend on fitness and rotation needs.
Punchlines
Punchline: If football were a sandwich, this transfer saga would be a double-decker—deliciously chaotic and somehow still half-baked at the same time.
Punchline: Inzaghi’s file might as well be labeled confidential, because even the press conference leaks out more rumors than the fridge leaks after last night’s game.
