Al-Hilal forward faces uphill battle to become Barcelona’s Alvarez alternative – here’s how | OneFootball

Barcelona’s search for a new striker could soon take another turn after reports suggest Darwin Nunez is no longer a realistic option for the Catalan club this summer.

According to ESPN, the Uruguay international faces a significant hurdle that effectively rules out a move to Barcelona despite recent speculation linking him with Hansi Flick’s side. 

Notably, the issue is not related to his sporting profile or transfer fee, but rather his current tax residence in Saudi Arabia, which makes a switch to Spain extremely complicated.

The update comes just days after Nunez emerged as a possible alternative in Barcelona’s transfer plans should the club fail to secure their top target, Julian Alvarez.

Barcelona exploring Julian Alvarez alternatives

Barcelona have made no secret of their desire to strengthen the centre-forward position before the transfer window closes, with Julian Alvarez remaining the club’s preferred target.

Barcelona cannot sign Darwin Nunez due to his tax residence. (Photo by Ernesto Ryan/Getty Images)

However, negotiations for the Argentine are far from straightforward, forcing the Blaugrana to assess other names capable of strengthening Hansi Flick’s attack if a deal cannot be reached.

Among those discussed was Darwin Nunez, who was believed to be a genuine option if Barcelona were unable to convince Atletico Madrid to part with Alvarez.

The Uruguayan also appeared to represent a more affordable solution than several other elite forwards on the market, making him an attractive alternative from a financial perspective.

Nunez’s situation fuelled transfer speculation

The former Liverpool star’s future has been uncertain for several months in Saudi Arabia.

Darwin Nunez’s potential move to Barcelona is off the table. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

The striker returned to Al-Hilal’s pre-season training camp last week while waiting for clarity over his next move. 

His situation at the Saudi club has become increasingly complicated after he was left unable to play in the Saudi Pro League since January because of the competition’s foreign-player registration rules.

That lack of competitive football naturally sparked speculation over a possible departure, with Barcelona among the clubs mentioned in recent reports.

Despite those links, ESPN reports that the tax implications surrounding the striker’s current residency mean a transfer to Barcelona is effectively off the table this summer.