Saúl gives up rest period at Flamengo to improve physical conditioning

Flamengo ends its commitments for the first half of the 2026 season next Saturday, when it faces Coritiba at Maracanã’s stadium. Following this clash, all athletes on the main squad will receive an official scheduled rest period before traveling internationally to carry out an inter-season abroad. An important exception to this planning was confirmed by midfielder Saúl, who chose not to take advantage of collective days off in order to accelerate the evolution of his physical skills.

The Spanish athlete’s determination stems from a recent medical history that significantly limited his participation on the pitch throughout the first months of this year. The professional underwent a complex surgical procedure on his left ankle and returned to the group of available athletes approximately 30 days ago. Ciente that his current performance remains far from the technical standards shown in the previous season, the player defined a heavy routine of structured training for the break period.

Dificuldades physical training marks the Spanish athlete’s return to Rio’s lawns

The midfielder’s physical transition process has been closely monitored by the club’s technical committee and medical department. Desde the match played on December 18th last year, the athlete faced a long period of forced inactivity that took a heavy toll on the competitive pace. The technical committee assesses that the break will be essential for the player to carry out loads of exercises that would not be possible to apply in the traditional calendar full of travel and games.

Nas had few performances since his medical return, the limitations resulting from the lack of sequence of games became evident to performance analysts. The player participated in the recent clash against Athletico-PR at Arena of Baixada, a stage that has synthetic grass, and reported great physical wear caused by the conditions of the floor. The effort was considered necessary by the technical committee due to the specific needs that the squad was facing at that point in the season.

Nova blow at surgery site worries doctors for next round

Pain in the operated area is still part of the midfielder’s daily routine during training at the club’s training center. In the most recent match, when the team played with a mixed formation against Cusco and won 3-0 at Maracanã, the Spaniard was among the starters. The participation ended 24 minutes into the second half after suffering a heavy stomp exactly at the site of the surgical scar.

The athlete limped off the pitch towards Lucas Paquetá’s entrance and immediately began ice treatment on the bench. Essa’s new medical incident turned the player’s lineup into a big doubt for this weekend’s game against Coritiba. The clinical examinations conducted at the cast’s return serve to map the severity of the trauma and establish the preventive physiotherapy schedule.

Detailed planning for the off-season provides specific steps to restore worn-out athletes:

• Avaliação daily pain levels in the left ankle tendon region.
• Exercícios of isometric muscle strengthening in the club’s indoor facilities.
• Atividades of aerobic reconditioning without impact on affected joints.
• Transição gradual towards ball work on the lawn in the second half of June.
• Integração total with the rest of the cast in the re-presentation for international travel.

Adaptação to América’s football from Sul motivates long-term stay

Prestes completing a full year of experience in Brazilian football, the midfielder plans to fully fulfill his professional contract. The contract signed between the parties is valid until the end of the 2028 season, which rules out rumors about a possible early return to the European continent. The athlete’s representatives reinforce that the player’s focus is fully directed towards consolidating his trajectory on the Rio and Janeiro team.

The environment found in Brazilian stadiums and the intensity demonstrated by fans in the stands had a positive impact on the athlete’s family and professional adaptation. The Spaniard revealed to close interlocutors his pride in being part of the Rio club’s institutional project, comparing his current identification with the feeling he had at the time when he defended the colors of Atlético and Madrid. Essa strong identification with the fans works as the main fuel for the professional to choose to sacrifice their holidays for the sake of future sporting performance.