After helping Liverpool lift a historic Premier League title under Arne Slot, Darwin Núñez shocked many by opting for a new chapter in the Saudi Pro League with Al Hilal.
The Uruguayan striker sealed a £46 million move to the Riyadh giants, becoming the latest European star to head to the Middle East. Since joining, Núñez has made a promising start — scoring four goals and contributing two assists in his first eight appearances.
His contract with Al Hilal runs until 2028, indicating the club’s long-term faith in him. But despite settling well, rumours have recently emerged suggesting Núñez could return to the Premier League far sooner than expected.
Those whispers grew louder following comments from former France World Cup winner Marcel Desailly. The ex-Chelsea and AC Milan defender — who made over 220 appearances for the Blues — publicly stated that Núñez would be an excellent signing for Chelsea.
Desailly believes the Uruguayan has all the attributes needed to lead Chelsea’s attack, a role the club has struggled to fill for several seasons. Despite summer arrivals such as João Pedro and Liam Delap, as well as opportunities handed to youngsters Marc Guiu and Tyrique George, Chelsea still lack a proven long-term number nine.
According to Desailly, Núñez could be the answer.
“For me, Núñez was perfect — absolutely spot on,” he told OLGB. “He’s still young, and even though his time at Liverpool wasn’t flawless, the fact they invested in him shows the quality he has.
I’d have loved to see him at Chelsea in Enzo Maresca’s system, which could have boosted his confidence. He wouldn’t even have cost that much in today’s market. If things don’t go smoothly for him in Saudi Arabia, he could be the one to come back.”
Núñez originally joined Liverpool from Benfica in 2022 for an initial £64 million, arriving with huge expectations as Sadio Mané’s successor. While fans admired his work rate and relentless energy, he often struggled for consistency in front of goal, with his best league return being 11 goals in the 2023/24 campaign.
Still, many believe the story isn’t over — and with growing speculation and influential voices like Desailly’s backing him, a Premier League comeback for Núñez may yet be on the cards.
