The Saudi Pro League continues to attract elite footballing talents from around the world, with two big names, Barcelona’s Inigo Martinez and Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez, becoming the latest pros moving to the cash-rich league in the Middle East. Spanish defender Martinez joined Al Nassr, leaving La Liga champions and Spanish domestic treble winners Barcelona, while the Uruguayan forward Núñez joined Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal from the Premier League champion Liverpool on a three-year deal.
Martinez is the second big signing for Al Nassr this summer after the Saudi club signed the Portuguese forward João Felix from Chelsea.
The 34-year-old Martinez, who won the domestic treble with Barcelona last season, started his career at Real Sociedad before moving to Athletic Bilbao in 2018. Martinez, who joined Barca in 2023, has earned 71 caps.
A strong-looking Al Nassr, after extending Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract for two more seasons, will face Al Ittihad in the semifinal of the Saudi Super Cup on 19 August.
For Al Hilal, who are aiming to secure a record-extending 20th league title this season, will be strengthening their frontline with the arrival of Núñez.
Al Hilal, who finished second in the Saudi Pro League last season, got another high-profile signing in Theo Hernandez from AC Milan.
The financial details of Nunez’s transfer were not revealed; however, the British media reported that the Saudis paid 53 million euros ($61.69 million) to the Anfield outfit for the 26-year-old.
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Nunez joined Liverpool in June 2022 from Benfica for an initial fee of 75 million euros but struggled for consistency, with 40 goals and 26 assists in 143 games in all competitions. The striker found himself on the fringes of the first team during Liverpool’s title-winning campaign last season, starting only eight league matches and netting five times.
His departure will help finance Liverpool’s close-season outlay of almost 300 million pounds so far.
It has already signed Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz for a club-record fee of up to 116 million pounds and French forward Hugo Ekitike for 69 million plus add-ons.
Al Hilal, under former Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi, became the first Asian club to defeat a Premier League side in an official match when it beat Manchester City at the Club World Cup last month.
(With Reuters inputs)
