Flamengo has made headlines this Wednesday by announcing the signing of Spanish midfielder Saúl Ñíguez, who joins from Atlético de Madrid with a contract until December 2028. The Rio club shared the news on social media with a clever nod to the popular series: “Need reinforcements? Better call Saúl.”

The Spanish international arrives as a versatile player who dominates the midfield and brings his European experience to South America. This move also marks his debut in Brazilian football after ending his loan spell at Sevilla, where he spent last season.

Saúl, born on November 21, 1994, developed almost his entire career with Atlético de Madrid, where he won two Europa Leagues, a Copa del Rey, a La Liga title, and a Spanish Super Cup. In the Madrid club, he shared the dressing room with Filipe Luís, now his coach at Flamengo, and also played alongside Jorginho, current Flamengo striker, during his loan at Chelsea in 2021 when they won the Club World Cup against Palmeiras.

Although Trabzonspor had expressed interest in him, Saúl explained via social media that the transfer “didn’t happen due to personal reasons.” Now, he lands in Brazil as part of Flamengo's strong push for domestic and continental titles.

A record for Spain in Brazil

Saúl’s arrival makes him the third Spaniard currently playing in the Brasileirão, joining Aitor Cantalapiedra at Vitória and Héctor Hernández Marrero at Corinthians. This marks a new record for the number of Spanish players in a single Brazilian league season.

Europe's presence is also growing in the Campeonato Brasileiro with 14 European players this season, including stars like Memphis Depay at Corinthians, Martin Braithwaite at Grêmio, and Jorginho, a naturalized Italian, at Flamengo.

Brazil has seen several notable Spaniards in the past, including Juanfran Torres, who joined São Paulo in 2019, and historic cases like José Ufarte, who began his professional career at Flamengo in the 1960s before becoming a legend at Atlético de Madrid.

Now, Saúl Ñíguez adds his name to this growing legacy, arriving with the mission of helping Flamengo fight for the Copa Libertadores title and raise the club's profile even higher.