Marcel Desailly believes former Liverpool star Darwin Nunez has plenty left to prove in the Premier League, naming Chelsea and Manchester United as possible destinations.
Nunez left Merseyside last summer, joining Al-Hilal for £46million where he has scored nine times in 24 appearances for the Saudi side.
But huge doubts over his future have emerged following Karim Benzema’s arrival at the club from rivals Al-Ittihad.
Saudi teams are only allowed to register eight foreign players born before 2023 in their 25-man squads with Nunez making way for the veteran Frenchman.
Nunez is still eligible for AFC Champions League matches but will have no role to play in the rest of the Saudi Pro League campaign.
Reports have suggested the Uruguay international is now keen on a return to Europe with Tottenham credited with interest.
But Chelsea great Desailly says he would ‘recommend’ his old side sign the 26-year-old, also suggesting Michael Carrick’s improving United side would suit him.
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‘I’m pleased to see him wanting to come back to European football – it shows money isn’t everything,’ Desailly told Footitalia.
‘A club like Chelsea, or the new Manchester United, would be best for him. He needs to be surrounded by established, confident players who know they’re going to play every weekend and who will give him the ball on the first intention.
‘That’s the small detail – when he makes a run, he needs to get the ball immediately. Otherwise he loses confidence quickly.’
Desailly is convinced Nunez still has plenty to offer in the Premier League, even comparing his early struggles to those of legends Dennis Bergkamp and Roberto Carlos.
‘I would actually recommend Núñez for Chelsea. He’s a very good player, a smart player – he just needs the right environment to perform,’ Desailly said.
‘When Liverpool identified his potential they knew what they had statistically. But when you start on a bad note, the confidence disappears and the consideration from those around you follows.
‘It’s like Dennis Bergkamp going to Inter Milan – things went completely wrong. Or Roberto Carlos in his early days, shooting the ball into the stands. The confidence wasn’t there.
‘That’s what happened to Núñez at Liverpool. But the quality is still there.’
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