Trabzonspor’s summer just keeps getting louder. Fresh off the seismic signing of Mohamed Salah, the Black Sea giants are now closing in on a reunion that has Super Lig fans buzzing: Darwin Nunez.
Where the Darwin Nunez Transfer Stands
Multiple Turkish outlets, including Fanatik and 61saat, report that Trabzonspor have struck a preliminary agreement with Nunez himself, with the Uruguayan striker accepting personal terms on what is being framed as an initial loan move worth around eight million euros. Vice president Ibrahim Sahinkaya has led direct talks with Al-Hilal, and the two sides are said to be working through the final financial details, chiefly how much of Nunez’s wages the Saudi club will continue to cover.
It is worth noting the deal is not fully done. Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan struck a more cautious tone, telling TRT Spor that while Nunez is “a very important player whom our coach also likes,” the clubs “don’t have an agreement” yet and that talks are ongoing. Read together, the picture is clear: personal terms are essentially settled, and the remaining work is between Trabzonspor and Al-Hilal on structuring the loan.
Why Nunez Wants In
The pull here is obvious, and it has a name: Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian’s stunning move to Trabzonspor earlier this month sent shockwaves through European football, and now his old Liverpool strike partner could be following him to the Black Sea coast. Salah and Nunez built one of the most productive partnerships of Salah’s Anfield career, combining for 18 goals in 122 appearances together, a tally bettered only by Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane among Salah’s teammates. The chance to link up again is reportedly a major factor in Nunez warming to a move that, on paper, represents a step down from Saudi Arabia’s spending power.
That drop in stock says a lot about how far Nunez’s fortunes have fallen since he left Anfield. The 27-year-old moved to Al-Hilal for fifty-three million euros last summer, but the arrival of Karim Benzema pushed him out of the picture. After scoring seven goals and adding five assists in 22 games before Benzema’s arrival, Nunez made just two further appearances the rest of the season and was eventually left out of Al-Hilal’s Saudi Pro League squad altogether.
A Striker With Goals Still in Him
Whatever the politics behind his fall from favor in Riyadh, Nunez’s underlying numbers remain hard to ignore. Across a 306-game career spanning Benfica, Liverpool and Al-Hilal, he has scored 117 goals and set up 51 more, and his relentless running style could be a perfect fit for the physicality of Turkish football.
What Happens Next
Trabzonspor begin their Super Lig campaign away at Kasimpasa this weekend, before a Europa League qualifier against the winner of Gornik Zabrze and Ferencvaros. If Al-Hilal signs off on the wage-sharing arrangement, Trabzonspor’s front office is expected to move quickly to get Nunez to Turkey for a medical and finalize his loan before the transfer window shuts.
For a club that stunned world football by landing Salah, adding Nunez would confirm Trabzonspor’s summer as one of the most audacious in Super Lig history, and give Fatih Tekke’s side an attacking reunion nobody saw coming.
