Barcelona offered chance to sign South American forward as Al Hilal open to loan exit | OneFootball

Al Hilal have decided to make Darwin Nunez available for loan after entering August without receiving a satisfactory offer for the Uruguayan striker, with FC Barcelona keeping an eye.

Indeed, according to multiple Saudi media outlets, as relayed by SPORT, both the club and the player’s representatives explored several permanent transfer options throughout the summer, but none materialized.

As a result, Al Hilal are now focusing on arranging a loan move, with the priority being to find a club willing to cover as much of Núñez’s substantial salary as possible.

Club officials are set to travel to Turkey this week to explore opportunities with some of the country’s biggest teams. At the same time, the striker continues to attract interest from clubs in the Premier League and Portugal.

Barcelona have also been informed of his availability, although no formal negotiations have taken place. The Catalan club are already in contact with Al Hilal over the potential signing of Joao Cancelo, but Darwin’s situation has remained a separate matter.

No longer part of Al Hilal’s plans

Nunez will leave Al Hilal. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Unlike Cancelo, Darwin has reported for Al Hilal’s preseason training camp in Austria. However, the striker is no longer considered part of the club’s long-term project.

The Uruguayan has struggled to adapt to life in Saudi Arabia, and Al Hilal now believe the best solution is to send him back to Europe on loan, hoping he can rebuild his reputation before attempting to sell him permanently next summer.

The club paid €55 million to sign Darwin from Liverpool. His spell in England was also inconsistent despite Liverpool investing €85 million to bring him from Benfica.

Not the first time

This is not the first time Darwin Nunez has been linked with Barcelona.

While he was still at Almeria, Barça came close to signing him after submitting a lower-valued offer. However, Benfica ultimately secured the striker’s signature by paying €25 million.

At the time, Barcelona’s scouting department produced highly positive reports on the Uruguayan, and club legend Luis Suarez even recommended him as a potential long-term successor.

The move never materialized, but Darwin has remained on the club’s radar ever since.

Jorge Mendes offers Nunez to Barcelona

According to the report, super-agent Jorge Mendes has offered Nunez to Barcelona as a possible market opportunity.

Nunez has been offered to Barça by Mendes. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

For the moment, however, the Catalan club have declined to enter negotiations.

Barcelona’s priority remains Julian Alvarez, with the sporting department convinced that the situation between the Argentine striker and Atletico Madrid could evolve as the transfer window progresses and tensions increase.

Even so, Nunez’s profile has become more attractive because a loan deal would require little or no transfer fee, making him a financially accessible alternative if Barcelona are eventually forced to move on from their primary target.

For now, though, the club’s involvement extends only to gathering information, with no concrete talks underway.