(Atletico Madrid)
While Manchester United’s hopes of
recruiting Atletico’s talismanic midfielder
are not exactly hanging by a thread,
executives from the Red Devil camp will
have to do far more than merely snap
their fingers and watch the 25-year-old
come running to Old Trafford.
The six seasons remaining on his
contract and a €150million release
clause constitute formidable barriers to
any change of club. On an emotional
level he is very attached to Atleti, having
been with them since he was 14 and
a first-teamer for the last eight years.
The Spain international underlined
his loyalty to the club in an interview with
Cadena Sur radio station in November,
saying: “I’m under contract with Atletico
until 2026 and have nothing else on my
mind. If another extension is drawn up, I’ll
sign. An improved salary? Things are fine
as they are. This is a good team and the
coach believes in me.”
Not that United and other interested
parties – not least Manchester City and
Barcelona – should automatically give
up the chase. According to the Mundo
Deportivo sports daily, talks about a new
deal have not been going well, with Saul’s
representatives unimpressed by the
money currently on the table.
Any transfer would depend on how
much Atletico are willing to shave off thebuy-out figure. In the current climate,
would they countenance a reduction to
€100m or maybe even less?
Diego Simeone would be loathe tolose him as the Atletico coach always
finds room for Saul, who had only missed
one competitive fixture this season and
that was because of suspension.
Saul would be a welcome addition to
any top-class side. He is dynamic, has a
wonderful range of pass and can score
goals. Indeed, one of his claims to fame
is that whenever he scores Atletico never
lose. He is a man for the big occasion,
scoring in the Champions League these
past few seasons against Bayern Munich,
Barcelona, Real Madrid and Liverpool.
What’s more he is immensely versatile.
Although at his most potent in a box-to-
box role, he is equally comfortable as a
wide midfielder, on either flank, and also
has lots of experience as a left-back.
At one and the same time, distributor,
destroyer and opportunist goal-grabber?
He would fit nicely in the Premier League.
Nick BidwellSAUL NIGUEZ
One of his claims to fame is that
whenever he scores Atletico
never loseMOST WANTED