Darwin Nunez sees Uruguay ban lifted after Copa America chaos in boost for Liverpool as Arne Slot shelves behind-closed-doors friendly plan

In August, CONMEBOL handed the Liverpool star a five-match ban for his involvement in a brawl with Colombia fans after Uruguay's Copa America 2024 semi-final defeat. However, as per The Times, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has temporarily revoked the suspension, which means that Nunez can appear for his national team in their upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifying matches. The striker was named in Marcelo Bielsa's 29-man Uruguay squad on Monday.

While Nunez has impressed for his national team in recent times, he has struggled for consistency in club football. Liverpool will now hope that the striker will get some much-needed game time in World Cup qualifiers which will help him to pick up his form. The Merseyside club were looking to conduct a behind-closed-doors friendly match especially for the Uruguayan during the international break, but head coach Arne Slot can cancel those plans after CAS's verdict.

Along with the Liverpool forward, Manchester United's Manuel Ugarte and former Red Devils star Facundo Pellistri have also been named in the squad by Bielsa, alongside Real Madrid star Federico Valverde.

The 25-year-old former Benfica star will next be seen in action on Saturday as Bielsa's men take on Peru. Uruguay will then turn their attention to a second World Cup qualifying clash against Ecuador on October 16.