Saúl’s departure from Flamengo: club accepts loan of midfielder with nine games in the season
The arrival of midfielder Saúl at Flamengo last year generated great expectations and a significant impact on the fans. The player formed a highly praised midfielder duo alongside Jorginho, winning over many fans who even envisioned an idol future for the Spaniard at the club.
At the end of the 2025 season, Saúl lost his starting position, but still managed to maintain a certain sequence of matches under the command of Filipe Luís. However, the beginning of 2026 brought a setback: before the pre-season, the athlete underwent surgery on his left heel, which sidelined him for a long period.
With the arrival of coach Leonardo Jardim, the midfielder’s situation changed drastically. It has been little used and, on several occasions, does not even appear among those listed for the games. Saúl feels undervalued, and information suggests that the Portuguese coach is not concerned about the player’s low performance, prioritizing other options in the squad.
The Rio club’s board, in turn, is willing to negotiate the Spaniard with the aim of reducing the salary bill. Saúl receives, between gloves and image rights, a monthly amount that is close to R$2 million, an amount considered very high for an athlete who has played little.
Flamengo even shows openness to lending the player on loan. This negotiation can occur both for teams outside Brazil and for national football clubs, as long as the interested party is responsible for paying the majority of Saúl’s monthly salaries, as determined on September 1, 2026.
Midfielder Saúl is experiencing few opportunities at Flamengo
In 2026, Saúl recorded just nine appearances on the field: two for the Libertadores, six for the Campeonato Brasileiro and one for the Copa do Brasil. This number is quite low for a professional who was hired as a starter and who initially performed technically, but ended up losing space to the point of being forgotten by the fans.
The midfielder also welcomes the possibility of a change of scenery, in the hope of finding a favorable opportunity to leave Flamengo. Although he is not deeply unhappy or desperate to leave the club, the player is looking for more minutes on the field to demonstrate his football.
It is important to remember that the midfielder has a contract with Mengão until December 2028 and has no plans to terminate his contract. Furthermore, there is no interest on the part of the athlete in giving up his full salary, a factor that could make possible transfers difficult.
At 31 years old, the player believes he still has many years of a productive career ahead of him. He considers himself 100% physically fit and ready to play, but realizes that Jardim opts for other choices, without transmitting the confidence necessary for the veteran to regain his importance in the team.
Transfer window could open doors for Saúl at other Brazilian clubs
If any concrete proposal emerges before September 11th, the closing date of the transfer window, the midfielder could be traded. This situation represents an excellent opportunity for Brazilian clubs looking for a technically qualified and motivated reinforcement to prove that they can still perform at a high level.
