Saúl ends 10-game wait at Leonardo Jardim's Flamengo | OneFootball

Spanish midfielder came on for Carrascal in the win over Mirassol after time away from the pitch

Saúl Ñíguez returned to the field wearing the Sacred Shirt after ten matches without playing. The Spanish midfielder came on in place of Jorge Carrascal during Flamengo’s win over Mirassol. Speculation had already pointed to the player’s desire to leave Fla, since Leonardo Jardim did not see him as a priority.

How did Saúl do against Mirassol?

Saúl played only 18 minutes in the match against Mirassol at the Maracanã. During that time, the Spaniard touched the ball nine times. The midfielder completed five passes, won two duels, made two tackles, and recovered one ball.

When was Saúl’s previous game for Flamengo?

The last match before his return had been against Coritiba, in the 17th round of the Brasileirão, on May 30. On that occasion, he played only 15 minutes in place of Erick Pulgar, with Rubro-Negro leading 3-0. Saúl only played again after ten matches, even without any confirmed injury.

The only physical issue reported during that period was a flu case recorded between one of the matches. However, the prolonged absence had no official medical explanation released by the club.

Why was Saúl out for so long?

Three weeks ago, the newspaper “O Globo” reported that Saúl wanted to leave the Most Beloved due to the lack of opportunities. The exact reason Leonardo Jardim was not using the Spaniard, however, remains without public confirmation.

What has Saúl’s journey at Flamengo been like so far?

Flamengo officially signed Saúl Ñíguez on July 23, 2025, as the club’s first reinforcement of the transfer window. The Spanish midfielder signed a three-and-a-half-year contract, valid until December 2028. The deal came shortly after the termination of his contract with Atlético de Madrid (ESP).

Saúl has now made 34 appearances wearing the Sacred Shirt since arriving at the club. However, only ten of those matches came this year. So far, the Spaniard’s record stands at three assists and no goals.

Are there prospects for changes at Flamengo?

Erick Pulgar and Evertton Araújo were substituted early against Mirassol because of pain. However, Rubro-Negro did not release the exam results. If the pair are unavailable, though, Saúl Ñíguez could feature in the upcoming matches.

What is the author’s opinion on Saúl’s situation at Flamengo?

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.