Darwin Nunez delivers perfect response to Saudi axe with message to Al-Hilal owners

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I cannot access the specific Liverpool.com article you've linked. However, I can provide a summary based on the search results available, which cover the same incident. **Darwin Nunez Delivers Message to Al-Hilal Owners Following Squad Axe** **The Situation** Former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez was recently removed from Al-Hilal's Saudi Pro League squad following the January arrival of Karim Benzema.[4] Saudi clubs are restricted to registering only eight foreign players born before 2003, and Nunez, who joined from Liverpool last summer for £46.1 million plus add-ons, was among those cut to accommodate the Ballon D'Or winner.[4] **The Response** Rather than issuing a public statement, Nunez delivered an emphatic response on the pitch.[4] The Uruguay international scored a clinical brace in Al-Hilal's AFC Champions League match against Al Wahda on Monday evening, securing a 2-1 victory and maintaining the club's unbeaten continental record.[2][3] **The Message** After converting his second goal, Nunez's celebration became the focal point of discussion.[2] He turned and directed a steady, composed gaze toward the main stand at Kingdom Arena—specifically toward the section where club decision-makers and ownership sit.[2][3] The gesture appeared deliberate and measured rather than celebratory, with Nunez delaying interaction with teammates to deliver the look.[3] **Context** Al-Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, stating that Nunez and fellow excluded defender Pablo Mari are "good players" but roster restrictions necessitated the tough call.[4] Benzema's arrival fundamentally altered the attacking structure and reduced Nunez's prominence in selection discussions.[3] **Analysis** While Nunez has not made a public statement regarding his omission, his on-field performance and deliberate post-goal gesture sent a clear message about his value to the club.[4] Whether intentional or instinctive, the composed look extended the significance of his brace beyond the scoreline.[3]