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One of Italy’s top clubs is reportedly considering a loan move as they look to secure the services of former Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez.
Darwin Nunez arrived at Liverpool from Benfica in the summer of 2022 for a then club-record fee of €85 million, a figure that could rise to €100 million, and from the very first day he divided opinion in the way only a certain type of footballer can.
The goals did not always flow as consistently as the price tag demanded, but the Uruguayan’s physical dominance, relentless work rate, and ability to create chaos in opposition defences made him a genuine cult figure at Anfield.
Across 95 appearances for the club, he scored 25 goals and contributed 13 assists, numbers that reflected both his potential and the inconsistency that followed him throughout his time on Merseyside.
Under Arne Slot in his final season, he showed flashes of something more composed and clinical, but Liverpool had already decided on a different direction.
The arrivals of Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike made Nunez surplus to requirements, and in August 2025, he was sold to Al-Hilal for €53 million.
The Saudi Pro League was supposed to represent a reset. Instead, it has become one of the more uncomfortable chapters of his career.
He started well enough in Riyadh, contributing six goals and four assists in 16 Saudi Pro League appearances alongside three goals in six AFC Champions League Elite games, maintaining a solid average rating of 7.38.
But everything shifted in January when Al-Hilal signed Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad.
Nunez was dropped from the domestic squad entirely for the second half of the season, restricted to AFC Champions League appearances only, a humiliating situation for a player who is still only 26 and preparing for the 2026 World Cup.
Interest has not been difficult to find.
AC Milan, under Massimiliano Allegri, have identified him as a low-cost, high-reward option to overhaul their attack.
Chelsea were briefly linked and were said to have held talks to sign the striker, though those conversations have since cooled as the club refocused on other targets.
That has left the field clearer for a third and now very serious suitor.
According to tuttomercatoweb, Juventus are exploring a loan deal with an option to buy as their preferred route to signing Darwin Nunez this summer, with the Turin club viewing the Uruguayan as the answer to their attacking problems heading into next season.
The report read, “The other is Darwin Nunez, who could leave Saudi Arabia after a year. The idea is to convince Al-Hilal with a loan deal with an option to buy, but the real issue remains his €15 million salary.”
According to Sky Sport Italy, Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli and manager Luciano Spalletti have already made an initial enquiry with Al-Hilal about Nunez’s availability.
The loan-to-buy structure is being considered as the most practical route forward, allowing Juventus to bring in a proven attacker without committing to a full transfer fee upfront, which is a significant factor given that the club’s ability to fund his wages depends heavily on whether they secure Champions League qualification between now and the end of the season.
The need is real and pressing.
Dusan Vlahovic’s contract situation at Juventus remains unresolved, with the club having made the Serbian an offer that has yet to be accepted, meaning Spalletti cannot rely on his current striker being at the club next season.
Nunez, at 26, hungry, unsettled, and with a point to prove, fits the profile Juventus are looking for.
The context beyond club football adds further weight to the story.
With the 2026 World Cup just months away, Nunez sitting on the bench in Riyadh week after week is far from ideal preparation for Uruguay’s campaign.
A move to a club playing in the Champions League would give him exactly the platform he needs to rebuild his standing, and for Liverpool supporters watching from a distance, it would represent a significant upturn in fortunes for a player who, despite everything, left Anfield with genuine goodwill on both sides.
