Saúl praises Filipe Luís: “He was a coach even as a player” | OneFootball

Flamengo presents their new number 8, the Spaniard Saúl Ñíguez

The Spaniard Saúl Ñíguez was presented by Flamengo this Friday (25). The new number 8 of the Most Beloved did not hold back his praise for coach Filipe Luís, with whom he played at Atlético de Madrid (ESP). According to the midfielder, the current Rubro-Negro manager was already a coach even when he was still a player.

— In the end, you realize that Filipe the player was already a coach, because he has very clear ideas. What he’s been conveying, the desire to win, the way of playing, it’s very similar to the conversations we have today. It’s similar to when he played, what he wanted to do on the field. We have very clear ideas. Having someone like Filipe will help me perform at my best and be able to help the team in every way, — Saúl highlighted in a press conference.

In the press conference, the European also emphasized his desire to learn the local language and acknowledged the affection he received from the fans. Thus, the midfielder once again praised the greatness of Flamengo and how he did not think twice before accepting the offer.

How long did they play together?

According to data from Transfermarkt, the full-back and the midfielder played together in 142 matches over seven seasons. The Brazilian provided five assists for goals scored by the Spaniard, while Saúl returned the favor with two decisive passes for Filipe Luís’s goals. Together, they won, for example, a Copa del Rey, two editions of the Europa League, and a UEFA Super Cup.

How long will Saúl Ñíguez’s contract last?

The agreement between Flamengo and Saúl Ñíguez is for three and a half years. Therefore, the midfielder will be a Rubro-Negro player until the end of the 2028 season.

Does Saúl know anyone else at Flamengo?

In the 2021/22 season, the Spanish midfielder was loaned to Chelsea (ENG), where he played alongside midfielder Jorginho, who is currently at Flamengo. However, they only played ten matches together and did not directly contribute to any goals.

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