Flamengo Reach Agreement With Atlético Madrid’s Saúl Ñíguez on Three-Year Deal
Flamengo have secured a verbal agreement with Atlético de Madrid midfielder Saúl Ñíguez, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. The 30-year-old is set to join the Brazilian club on a three-year deal, reinforcing Filipe Luís’s squad following the departure of Gerson.
Player Turned Down Trabzonspor for Flamengo
Ñíguez had been in advanced talks with Turkish club Trabzonspor, but negotiations fell through. Flamengo took advantage of the opportunity and moved swiftly behind the scenes to convince the experienced midfielder to commit to the Rio-based club.
A former Spanish international, Saúl still had a contract with Atlético until June 2026 but is now expected to leave Europe for Brazil as Flamengo finalizes the last details of the deal.
Positional Versatility Adds Depth to Squad
Primarily a central midfielder, Saúl Ñíguez offers tactical flexibility rarely seen at this level. Over his career, he has played in eight different roles, ranging from midfield to defense and even out wide.
Here is a breakdown of his career appearances by position (via Transfermarkt):
- Central Midfielder: 246 games – 25 goals – 12 assists
- Left Midfielder: 83 games – 5 goals – 5 assists
- Right Midfielder: 71 games – 14 goals – 9 assists
- Defensive Midfielder: 54 games – 6 goals
- Left-Back: 17 games – 1 goal – 3 assists
- Centre-Back: 15 games – 1 goal – 3 assists
- Attacking Midfielder: 4 games – 1 goal – 3 assists
Right Winger: 1 game
This positional versatility makes him a valuable addition for Flamengo, who continue to reshape their midfield after Gerson’s transfer to Zenit Saint Petersburg.
Solid Numbers in 2023/24 With Sevilla
Saúl spent last season on loan at Sevilla, where he featured in 26 matches, starting 19 of them. He registered one goal and six assists, showing he can still perform at a high level.
In addition to Atlético and Sevilla, Saúl has had spells with Chelsea in the Premier League and Rayo Vallecano in La Liga. Internationally, he has also represented the Spanish national team, adding experience and leadership to Flamengo’s locker room.
