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Full nameSaúl Ñíguez Esclapez
PositionDefensive midfielder
NationalitySpain
Age31
Date of birth21 Nov 1994
BirthplaceElche
Height184 cm
Shirt number#8
ClubFlamengo
Defensive midfielder
16
Appearances
0
Goals
2
Assists
1173
Minutes

Domestic-league season · Flamengo.

Injury-affected season

Missed 3 of Flamengo's ~38 games this season through 3 injury absences (inactive, ankle, yellow cards). He still appeared 16 times — a solid return given how little of the season he was available. His rating is judged mainly on the games he was fit to play.

Performance data · by competition

CompetitionAppsGAMinMatch
Serie A160211737.08
CONMEBOL Libertadores1002616.83
FIFA Intercontinental Cup200486.9
Copa Do Brasil100476.8

Scout report

Experienced headBall-winning Defensive midfielder

Saúl is a 31-year-old defensive midfielder at Flamengo, rated 31.2 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 284th of 413 on scout potential in the Serie A. A seasoned veteran, he has been a rotation option this season (37.2% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 4.14 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Saúl.

Judged on this season alone, Saúl graded 20 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 31st of 57 of the 57 defensive midfielders in the Serie A, on 0 goals, 2 assists and 4.143 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a drop on last season (Season 33 → 20). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2023/24.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 31, 39th of 57 of the 57 defensive midfielders in the Serie A. At 31 Saúl is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 7.1 reflects that trajectory.

Read the appearance count in context: Saúl missed 3 games through injury (inactive, ankle, yellow cards) out of roughly 38 this season. The 16 he did play is a solid return on the time he was fit, and his ratings are weighted toward those games rather than the ones he sat out injured.

From the career report
Read the full career report →

Past his 2023/24 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2023/24Trending downBreakout: 2022/234 clubs
Current potential39th of 57 defensive midfielders · Serie ACurrent season31st of 57 defensive midfielders · Serie A31st-best defensive midfielder in the Serie A284th in the Serie A · potential39th-highest potential defensive midfielder in the Serie A
31.2
Ratingi
39th of 57 defensive midfielders
19.9
Seasoni
below regular-starter level
37.2%
Minutes
rotation minutes
4.14
Def. actions / 90
solid defensive volume

Output in context · Flamengo finished 1st of 20 · a title-challenging side

4.14
Def. / 90
32
Tackles
17
Interceptions
6
Clean sheets

4.14 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 6 clean sheets across 16 appearances. Behind a title-challenging side (1st of 20) the side controls more games, so the defensive load is lighter — the value sits as much in composure and ball progression as in raw volume. Going forward he chipped in 0 goals and 2 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

  • Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.15 goal involvements per 90, useful for a defensive midfielder.
  • Defensive volume. 4.14 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.

Watch points

  • Game time. Only 37.2% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
  • Age curve. At 31, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
  • Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 31.2, Saúl carries the 39th-highest potential of the defensive midfielders in the Serie A of 57. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (4.14 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90), with a bit more on the ball than most in the role. Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.9× and falling).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.