South American striker monitoring Barcelona’s pursuit of a number nine – Report | OneFootball

Darwin Nunez has returned to training with Al Hilal, but the Uruguay striker is still watching Barcelona’s movements closely as his future remains uncertain.

The 26-year-old has rejoined the Saudi club after the World Cup despite previous talk of a possible contract termination. For now, he remains under contract and has started pre-season work while waiting to see whether another opportunity emerges.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Nunez and his camp are aware that Barcelona are still considering options for the centre-forward position.

Barca’s clear priority remains Julian Alvarez, but that operation is extremely difficult because Atletico Madrid continue to insist that they do not want to sell.

Ferran Torres’ uncertain future also adds another layer to the situation, with Paris Saint-Germain still interested in the Spain international.

That is where Nunez could become relevant.

The report claims the former Liverpool striker believes he could emerge as a low-cost alternative if Barcelona fail to land Julian. His name has already appeared in discussions, and his situation at Al Hilal could make him available on favourable terms.

Nunez’s situation could create a market opportunity

Nunez has not played an official match for Al Hilal since February after losing his place in the club’s foreign-player quota following Karim Benzema’s arrival.

His position is even more complicated because Simone Inzaghi remains in charge, the same coach who left him out of the domestic squad.

That does not automatically make him the right fit for Barcelona, but it does make the financial side potentially attractive.

From a Barca perspective, the appeal would be obvious if the price is genuinely low. Nunez brings pace, physicality and the ability to attack space, although his finishing consistency has often been questioned.

He would also represent a very different profile from Julian.

For now, Barcelona should keep the option in reserve rather than rush into anything. Julian remains the dream target, while Ferran’s future still needs clarity.

However, if the market forces Deco to look elsewhere, Nunez may be one of the names waiting in the background. His return to Saudi Arabia does not necessarily mean his future is there.