Latest news with #AlHillal
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Darwin Nunez makes the most of Saudi switch as Liverpool awaits Alexander Isak resolution
Former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez is already taking well to life in Saudi Arabia. The mercurial Uruguayan forward has scored in consecutive friendlies for his new side Al-Hillal after securing a €53 million ($62 million) move from the Reds in July. Nunez scored 40 goals in 143 games for Liverpool, but often underperformed from his expected goals tally and struggled for confidence in front of goal. His transfer comes amid speculation that the Reds are pursuing Newcastle forward Alexander Isak. The Swedish international is still under contract with the Tyneside club, but Italian football journalist Fabrizio Romano reported that Isak has "no intention" to play for Newcastle this weekend. READ MORE: Alexander Isak could be given transfer lifeline thanks to PSG READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Alexander Isak latest, Luis Diaz talks, Harvey Elliott admission "Alexander Isak's plans remain clear: no intention to be part of the squad against Aston Villa, same against Liverpool next week," Romano wrote. "Isak keeps rejecting new deal approaches as his clear desire remains to join Liverpool asap." Nunez didn't necessarily score against the stiffest competition: his goals came against FC Aarau (a second-tier Swiss side) and SV Waldhof Mannheim (a German third-tier side) in 6-0 and 3-2 wins, respectively. Nunez's goal against Waldhof Mannheim was the third in quick succession (33rd minute) after fullbacks Theo Hernandez (21st) and Joao Cancelo (25th) found the net a minute before. The Uruguayan finds himself in an Al-Hillal side loaded with talent, including Salem Al-Dawsari, Ruben Neves, Bono, Malcom, Kalidou Koulibaly, Hernandez, and Cancelo. His exit from Liverpool was bittersweet, as Nunez often teased the potential that made former manager Jurgen Klopp sign him from Benfica for an initial £64 million in 2022. Mohammed Salah posted an emotional message for his teammate on X. 'I consider myself lucky to have had you as a teammate and friend," the Egyptian wrote. READ MORE: Curtis Jones appears to drop Alexander Isak hint with cheeky gesture in Premier League video READ MORE: Roy Keane and Ian Wright slam Alexander Isak's 'shocking' behavior "You were always very real and brought so much good energy wherever you went. You made us laugh and showed heart in everything you did. You will be missed, and I wish you the best in your new club.' The club also sent Nunez off with a message. "The Uruguayan's three-year spell with the Reds concludes after he finalised a switch to the Saudi Pro League side today," it read. "Everybody at the club would like to thank Darwin for his contributions and wish him and his family all the best for the future."
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
5 things spotted in Liverpool training with glaring absence and injury boost noticed
Liverpool is back in training at the AXA Training Centre ahead of Sunday's Community Shield against Crystal Palace, the 2025 FA Cup winners after shocking Manchester City 1-0. The Reds are fresh off a pair of wins over Athletic Bilbao at Anfield on Monday. Virgil van Dijk (illness), Alisson Becker (personal), Joe Gomez (Achilles injury), and Conor Bradley ("minor injury") all missed both contests. Van Dijk was back in training on Thursday and figures to feature against Palace, while the other three all missed out. Another familiar face missing: Darwin Nunez. The Uruguayan is on his way to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hillal. READ MORE: Liverpool handed double boost before Community Shield as Virgil van Dijk spotted READ MORE: Darwin Nunez showed his true colors with trophy remark as Liverpool transfer exit looms Van Dijk returns 'Unfortunately, Virgil is sick today," Slot said on Sunday, as Van Dijk missed Sunday's contest, Liverpool's last before competitive matches start. The club captain returned to training on Thursday and looks his imperious self. He will likely partner with fellow centerback Ibrahima Konate on Sunday against Palace. The Reds are notably light on centerback coverage behind the top two, especially with the oft-injured Gomez once again absent. Don't be surprised if the club make a late-summer push for a discount defensive option. Elliott ignoring transfer speculation Attacking midfielder/winger Harvey Elliott was the subject of "£40 million ($53.6M) plus a buy-back option, or above £50M ($67M) without one" transfer to German side RB Leipzig this week, per The Athletic. He remains in training with the club and wants to be part of Slot's long-term plans. Elliott featured in the first game against Bilbao, scoring on what may potentially be his last game at Anfield in a Reds shirt. The boyhood Liverpool fan joined the club on a tribunal from Fulham in 2019. The 22-year-old started only three Premier League games last year for the champions. He improved his stock this summer by winning the UEFA European Under-21 Championship Player of the Tournament with England this summer. Interseting training tactics Jeremie Frimpong, Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz, Federico Chiesa, and Andy Robertson participated in an interesting route-running drill on Thursday. At the end of it, they had to catch a ball. Slot has integrated a handful of interesting training techniques since joining the English giants from the Netherlands. Most members of the Liverpool squad probably aren't too shocked; after all, many spent time working under the eccentric Jurgen Klopp. Alisson Becker was once again absent from training on Thursday with a personal matter: the Brazilian former Yashin trophy winner also missed both Bilbao fixtures on Monday. If he can't play on Sunday, 2024 signing Giorgi Mamardashvili (pictured above) from Valencia will make his competitive Liverpool debut against Crystal Palace. Last Mac standing Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister seemed to be all smiles at the AXA Training Centre on Thursday. This is a good sign considering the club just sold two of his closest friends in the squad. Both Luis Diaz (January 2022) and Darwin Nunez (July 2022) joined Liverpool over a year before the mercurial Argentine international signed for the Reds in June of 2023. He proved to be the last one standing, though Liverpool will have to be careful of potential interest from Real Madrid. Slot has experimented moving fellow midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai into a deeper role this preseason, potentially challenging Mac Allister's regular spot in the team next to Ryan Gravenberch.
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Darwin Nunez will receive staggering salary hike upon Liverpool exit
Uruguayan forward Darwin Nunez is officially an Al-Hillal forward after Liverpool agreed to sell the mercurial 26-year-old to the Saudi Arabian side for €53 million ($61.8 million) plus add-ons. Nunez entered the season on the same contract and wage structure as when he signed with Liverpool for an initial fee of £64.1 million ($85.5 million) from Benfica in 2022. With Al-Hillal, the 26-year-old is set to see his new contract nearly triple from around a reported £140,000-a-week ($147,000) with the Reds to £400,000-a-week ($534,000) with his new side, according to TalkSport. Per Spotrac, Nunez ranked 10th amongst the top Liverpool earners last season, behind the likes of the since-departed Trent Alexander-Arnold. READ MORE: Darwin Nunez fee agreed as Liverpool set to take hit on transfer exit READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Isak misses training, Barcola move 'considered', Nunez exit looms Al-Hillal reportedly bid a higher quantity for Nunez in the January transfer window, but Reds boss Arne Slot was not keen to use a key attacking option with his side still in a title race at that point. He was linked to Napoli, the reigning Serie A champion, earlier in the 2025 summer window. Antonio Conte's spendthrift side ultimately decided to stay within the country for a forward, plucking Lorenzo Lucca from Udinese. Nunez will finish his Liverpool career with 40 goals in 143 competitive appearances for the side. Since his 2022 arrival, he's hit the post more times (14) than any other player in the Premier League. The Uruguayan certainly had a penchant for scoring timely winners, highlighted by his stoppage time stunners on the road against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest during the 2023/24 campaign. Nunez will join an Al-Hillal side possessing brand names from across Europea over the last half-decade, including the talented Serbian duo of striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The Saudi outfit has already made a big splash in the 2025 summer window, signing French international fullback Theo Hernandez from AC Milan. Liverpool has also replaced Nunez with forward Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt and may put a cherry on top of an expensive window with the further signing of Alexander Isak from Newcastle.
