Liverpool are under fire after Portuguese outlet A Bola reported that the Premier League club may be deliberately limiting Darwin Nunez’s playing time to avoid triggering a €5 million add-on payment to Benfica.
The Uruguayan striker last featured for Liverpool on April 6 in a 3-2 defeat against Fulham. Since then, he has been left out of the squad by manager Arne Slot in two consecutive matches — a move that’s now raising suspicions.
According to A Bola, Liverpool owe Benfica an additional €5 million if Nunez reaches 60 starts combined in the Champions League and Premier League. So far, the 24-year-old has started 10 times in the Champions League and 49 times in the Premier League — meaning he is just one start away from activating the clause.
Despite featuring in 25 Premier League games this season, Nunez has only started eight of them. Since February, he has been in the starting XI just once, fueling speculation that Liverpool are intentionally avoiding the final start required to trigger the bonus fee.
Sources close to Benfica have told A Bola that the Portuguese club is monitoring the situation closely and may consider filing a formal complaint if they suspect Liverpool are circumventing contractual obligations.
If the clause is activated, the total cost of Nunez’s transfer — initially valued at €64 million in 2022 — could rise to nearly €100 million, making him one of the most expensive players in Liverpool’s history.
Adding more intrigue to the situation, Liverpool are reportedly planning to offload Nunez in the summer of 2025. After three seasons with the club, Nunez has scored just 40 goals in 138 appearances, with 7 goals in 42 matches this campaign. His inconsistent form and finishing have drawn criticism from fans and pundits alike.
If true, this strategy could be Liverpool’s way of avoiding the €5 million add-on while preparing to part ways with a player who has yet to meet expectations.
As the Premier League season enters its final stretch with five games remaining, all eyes are now on whether Darwin Nunez will start again — or if Liverpool will bench him until summer to save millions.