It seems like an impossible combination – Barcelona and Darwin Nunez
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 31.05.26. | 22:47
Spanish sources report that a certain link between the Uruguayan and the Catalan club exists
Everything surrounding Julian Alvarez has heated up significantly, with it initially appearing that Barcelona might succeed in securing the Atletico Madrid striker. However, that momentum cooled after Madrid’s patience ran out following a wave of unverified and false reports circulating from various sources. Atletico responded firmly, firing back with statements and counter-claims, ultimately underlining Alvarez’s €500,000,000 release clause.
At the moment, the early optimism at Camp Nou about landing one of the most sought-after forwards in world football has faded. That doesn’t mean Barcelona have abandoned the idea of signing Alvarez, but attention has meanwhile shifted toward another attacking option who could join the Spanish champions. Catalan outlet Mundo Deportivo reports that the somewhat overlooked Darwin Nunez has emerged on Barcelona’s radar.
During ongoing discussions with Al Hilal — the club from which Barcelona are also trying to secure Joao Cancelo — Nunez’s name unexpectedly surfaced. According to sources familiar with the negotiations, it remains unclear whether Barcelona made an approach for the Saudi side’s striker or whether Al Hilal themselves offered the Uruguayan to the Catalans.
After his €53 million move from Liverpool, Nunez had a promising start under Simone Inzaghi, but the winter arrival of Karim Benzema and the Frenchman’s registration issues pushed him out of the squad. In fact, the Uruguayan was removed from the registered player list, making it clear his future in Saudi Arabia was no longer secure.
In recent weeks, several reports have suggested a mutual termination of his contract could be on the table, though nothing has been officially confirmed. For now, Barcelona still see Alvarez as their priority target for the striker position, while Nunez is considered more of a rotational option. Any potential deal would largely depend on whether Nunez becomes a free agent or if Al Hilal demand a transfer fee for the 26-year-old, whose contract runs until 2028.