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Al‑Hilal Drop Darwin Núñez From Saudi Pro League Roster After Benzema Signing

The deregistration reflects the league’s foreign‑player cap following Karim Benzema’s arrival, leaving the forward restricted to AFC Champions League duty.

Overview

  • Head coach Simone Inzaghi confirmed Núñez’s removal from the domestic list, describing it as a difficult call driven by foreign‑player registration limits.
  • Núñez remains eligible only for the AFC Champions League, where Al‑Hilal have roughly five potential matches left this season.
  • Benzema joined from Al‑Ittihad in January, claimed a foreign‑player slot, and marked his debut with a hat‑trick.
  • Defender Pablo Marí was also left out of Al‑Hilal’s Saudi Pro League squad under the same quota constraints.
  • A proposed January move to Fenerbahçe fell through, and reports now suggest a possible summer exit is being considered.