Ex-Atletico star makes bizarre comment against Real Madrid – ‘They have no fans, Flamengo is bigger’ | OneFootball

Once regarded as one of the most talented players in Spanish football, Saul Niguez’s fall from grace has been quite disappointing to watch, to say the least.

The Spaniard has gone from being a regular starter for Atletico Madrid to playing in the Brazilian league.

Indeed, Saul joined Flamengo last summer on a free transfer after failing to establish himself in Diego Simeone’s first-team plans at Atlético.

What Saul said about Real Madrid

Desperately fighting for relevance, Saul Niguez has now made a rather bizarre comment on Real Madrid and its fans.

In a recent interaction, the former Atletico Madrid star has criticised the atmosphere at Santiago Bernabeu, claiming that Flamengo has a better atmosphere.

“Real Madrid have no fans. You go to the Bernabeu, and you feel nothing at all. Flamengo is bigger than Real Madrid,” he said (h/t El Chiringuito).

Saul Niguez joined Flamengo last summer. (Photo by Rodrigo Valle/Getty Images)

Although it won’t be right to completely dismiss Flamengo, who are one of the biggest and most passionately supported clubs in Brazil, claiming it has a better atmosphere than the Bernabeu appears to be a desperate attempt to gain some eyeballs.

This is especially valid considering the fact that even some of the biggest footballers and coaches in the world believe the Bernabeu is a difficult place to play in if you are not playing for Real Madrid.

Saul, though, appears to have a different view of it, which is understandable given that he has lost 13 times to Real Madrid during his career. The majority of those defeats have come at the Bernabeu.

Nevertheless, away from the limelight of Europe, Saul appears to be enjoying life in Brazil, where he has already made 23 competitive appearances for Flamengo.