Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez is prepared to accept a significant salary reduction in a bid to leave Al Hilal and secure a long‐desired move to Barcelona this summer, according to reports in Spain.
Nunez, who joined the Saudi Pro League side from Liverpool last year for €55m, has struggled to establish himself as an undisputed starter and is now considering a way out, with Barcelona emerging as his preferred destination.
Spanish newspaper Sport reports that the 25‐year‐old is willing to give up part of his substantial Al Hilal wages if it helps facilitate a transfer to the Camp Nou, as he looks to revive his European career at one of the continent’s traditional giants.
Al Hilal reluctant to terminate contract
Nunez is said to be closely monitoring the transfer market while simultaneously working on an arrangement with Al Hilal that would allow him to leave during the current window.
The Saudi club, however, are keen to recoup a portion of the fee they paid Liverpool and are not inclined to terminate his contract outright. Instead, they are open to a loan deal, provided all parties can agree on financially acceptable terms.
Any agreement is therefore likely to hinge on Barcelona’s ability to structure a move that satisfies Al Hilal’s desire to protect their investment, while also fitting within the Spanish club’s ongoing financial constraints.
Barcelona’s long-standing interest
Sport notes that Barcelona’s interest in Nunez is not new. The Catalan club came close to signing him in 2020, when he was playing for Almeria in Spain’s second tier.
At that time, Barcelona made an offer to purchase 50% of his rights, but the deal did not materialise. Instead, Benfica stepped in and completed a €33m transfer, a move that proved pivotal in Nunez’s rise to prominence in European football and ultimately paved the way for his switch to Liverpool.
That near‐miss in 2020 has reportedly left Nunez with a lingering ambition to play for Barca, an ambition now influencing his willingness to sacrifice part of his salary.
Alvarez remains Barcelona’s first choice
Despite Nunez’s readiness to lower his wage demands, Barcelona’s hierarchy are still prioritising a move for Argentina forward Julian Alvarez as their main option to strengthen the centre‐forward position.
Sport claims Alvarez remains at the top of the club’s shortlist, with the Barcelona board focused on trying to complete that deal first in the coming days.
However, there is an acknowledgement within the club that a transfer for Alvarez could prove difficult to finalise. In that scenario, Nunez is viewed as a more realistic alternative, given his openness to adapt financially and his current situation at Al Hilal.
For now, Nunez’s future remains unresolved, but his stance signals a clear desire to return to European football and, if possible, to do so in Barcelona colours.
