Richard Hughes can solve heartbreaking Darwin Nunez crisis | OneFootball

Liverpool made the decision to sell Darwin Nunez last summer and in truth little has gone right for either party since.

Nunez’s replacement at No9 - Alexander Isak - has been injured all season and has managed only two Premier League goals to this point.

Darwin meanwhile has suffered from his initial £46m move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal. The 26-year-old was sensationally demoted from their domestic squad when Karim Benzema signed in winter.

The £400k per week frontman is now stuck in limbo and it’s taking its toll on his international career too.

Uruguay media: Darwin in crisis

Marcelo Bielsa - the Uruguay head coach - used Darwin sparingly across the recent international window. He started neither game against England and Algeria - and came out of both fixtures without a goal.

Darwin is without a goal to his name in Uruguay colours since June 2024 - and the goalless streak is now destined to stretch right towards the FIFA World Cup.

Whether Darwin will even be part of the squad is now uncertain - although El Observador in Uruguay suggests that Bielsa will give him a chance to prove himself in May and June around the national training camp.

“The second half of May and the first nine days of June, in the tranquility of the Uruguayan Football Association Complex (in the department of Canelones), on Route 101, where the national team will prepare for the 2026 World Cup, will offer the "9" alternative paths to try to achieve the miracle of overcoming his football crisis,” their report reads.

Bring Darwin back

Liverpool haven’t been the same since Darwin left. Although he had his detractors and on occasion expressed dissatisfaction with supporers he has recently admitted how much he misses life at Anfield.

And Arne Slot too is missing Darwin’s pressing from the front - his infectious energy and of course his knack of popping up with a goal.

Maybe Richard Hughes really didn’t know what he had until it was gone and the toll its taken on Darwin has been immense.

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Liverpool could do with Darwin's energy

“In this scenario that the Artigas native is experiencing, his lack of football has repercussions in all states: physical, football-related and emotional,” the report reads.

Maybe there’s a chance of Liverpool doing some kind of deal which would see Darwin return in the summer. He would have to accept a pay cut of course with his wages far too high to be accommodated at practically every European club.

But Darwin knows the club inside out and would give the Reds a huge boost - either at centre-forward or from the left wing as a Cody Gakpo replacement.

Darwin Nunez back home to Anfield.