Clear path for Barça? Atlético withdraws from the race for Darwin Núñez

Darwin Núñez would be one of the 'sacrificed' in the 'exit operation' that is being cooked up at Liverpool. The 'red' entity intends to part ways with several players who do not fit into Arne Slot's plans for the upcoming season, and the Uruguayan, who has seen his role in the first team become secondary, is one of the top candidates to change scenery this summer.

The performance of the 25-year-old charrúa is starting to worry at Anfield Road, where they are still waiting for the breakthrough of a player for whom they paid 85 million euros to Benfica in the summer of 2022. This season, the player has recorded just 6 goals and 5 assists in 1,710 minutes played across 35 matches, numbers that fall short for a forward from one of the best teams of the season.

For this reason, from the red side of Merseyside, they are beginning to imagine a future without Darwin in their ranks, and both Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona appeared as two possible destinations for the player. However, Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, the CEO of the Atlético club, firmly denied the interest of the rojiblancos in the player.

"Núñez is not in our recruitment plans for what is to come, the information about our interest in the player is unfounded," the executive explained in statements collected by the Uruguayan portal 'Fútbol'. "While we are not looking for a forward, we are focused on strengthening other positions in the team," he added.

Barça could attempt to sign Núñez in the summer

In this way, Barça begins to have a clear path to attempt to sign Núñez in the summer. In the Catalan city, they are searching for a medium- to long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski, whose contract expires in June 2026, and although the Catalans intend to offer him an extension until 2027, the reality is that the 36 years of the forward force them to plan for a future without the player in their ranks.

Top names like Alexander Isak or Viktor Gyökeres are at the top of the priority list for the blue and garnet entity, but the high figures involved in their operations have meant that the club does not lose track of more accessible options like the Uruguayan.

Despite being valued at 65 million euros, Liverpool could accept a lower figure to cash in and take on a player who fits into Slot's system, which is why it is expected that his name will continue to hover over Spotify Camp Nou in the coming months.