Darwin Núñez scores twice, involved in Al Hilal controversy | OneFootball

Darwin Núñez once again became a protagonist, now far from Europe, in a match marked by some tension from the Uruguayan. After being removed from Al Hilal's squad list for the Saudi league, a decision that made room for the inclusion of Karim Benzema, the former Benfica forward responded on the field in the Asian Champions League.

Starting against Al Wahda, the striker scored both goals in the 2-1 victory, playing a crucial role in the team's qualification. The first goal came from a free-kick taken by Rúben Neves, with Darwin finishing without celebrating, a gesture that did not go unnoticed.

For the second goal, the forward showed a different attitude. After scoring, he celebrated more enthusiastically, kicking the corner flag and, on his way back to the center of the field, fixed his gaze on the box where Al Hilal's owner was seated, accompanying the gesture with an ironic smile.

According to local media, the night was also marked by another incident off the field. At the end of the match, the former Benfica player reportedly refused to accept the man of the match award, heading straight to the locker room, in a clear sign of dissatisfaction with how his situation has been managed.

This season, playing for Al Hilal, Darwin Núñez - valued at 35 million euros - has played a total of 24 official matches: 16 in the Saudi League, six in the Asian Champions League, and two in the Saudi Cup. In the 1,667 minutes he spent on the pitch, the forward recorded nine goals and five assists.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.