Darwin Núñez has opened up about the difficulty of becoming Al-Hilal’s domestically unregistered striker six months after joining the club for a fee potentially reaching £56.6 million.

The former Liverpool forward moved to Saudi Arabia in August 2025 and scored six goals across his first 14 league appearances.

His involvement ended following the January arrival of Karim Benzema.

Saudi Pro League clubs can register only eight foreign players born before 2003 in their 25-man domestic squads. Al-Hilal responded to signing Benzema by removing Núñez and former Arsenal defender Pablo Marí from theirs.

Núñez remained eligible for selected continental fixtures but was no longer part of Simone Inzaghi’s league plans. The 27-year-old subsequently spent approximately six months without regular football before joining newly promoted Al-Diriyah on a season-long loan.

He marked his return by scoring twice against Al-Ettifaq on Saturday.

“The past six months at Al-Hilal were very difficult for me and my family,” Núñez said afterwards.

The Uruguay international explained that his family had helped him through the period and said he would not wish the experience upon another player. For Núñez, being able to compete again mattered more than the two goals.

His frustration is understandable. Al-Hilal had recruited him as one of Europe’s most recognisable forwards, committed a substantial transfer fee and then made him surplus by purchasing another high-profile striker for the same limited collection of registration places.

Núñez had not reached the end of his contract, suffered a career-ending injury or completed a gradual decline at the club. Al-Hilal simply preferred a newer acquisition and temporarily removed the previous one from its domestic football operation.

A transfer worth nearly £57 million had become an administrative inconvenience within six months.

Núñez’s Al-Hilal career did not stall because the club could no longer afford him. It stalled because Al-Hilal could afford Karim Benzema as well.