Saul Niguez

[vegitot]

Oh my God, he's a benchwarmer even at Atletico. This year with De Paul signed, he'd become their Puig.

Cmon you really compare Mavericky to Saul???

 

[khaled_a_d]

Saul was once considered one of Atletico top performers, who surpassed Koke as their best midfielder.
He had a bad season, but even then he was more or less a starter who served whatever role the manager asked from him.

I don't see the comparison with Pjanic or Arda tbh. I think of him more of Keita type of signing, except more expensive on paper

 

[JamDav1982]

Not far from that. Surely not their first choice. Especially not after de Paul arrives.

Started over two thirds of league games and came on in almost all the others while was starting almost evry CL game could.

That is not a bench warmer.

 

[vegitot]

Difference is, Koeman actually wants Saul and thinks he fits the type of midfielder he wants to add.
OTOH, Pjanic came before Koeman is hired.
That alone makes world of difference.

Yeah. People seem to forget Pjanic deal happened before Koeman. This time it happens with Koeman's agreement. He wanst another midfielder.

 

[vuji_31]

I like this transfer just because we lack some midfielder, and Griezmann is gone with his 42mil per season.

 

[messi2140]

Difference is, Koeman actually wants Saul and thinks he fits the type of midfielder he wants to add.
OTOH, Pjanic came before Koeman is hired.
That alone makes world of difference.

What's the source on this ? To me it looks like Barca had 0 leverage in this deal (understandable) and Atletico wanted to get rid of Saul anyway. Imo I don't think Koeman had much say in this deal.

 

[vegitot]

What's the source on this ? To me it looks like Barca had 0 leverage in this deal (understandable) and Atletico wanted to get rid of Saul anyway. Imo I don't think Koeman had much say in this deal.

Pretty sure Koeman knows about this swap and agrees with it.

 

[messi2140]

Pretty sure Koeman knows about this swap and agrees with it.

My point is even if he said no , this club is financially so screwed that it wouldn't have mattered.

 

[khaled_a_d]

What's the source on this ? To me it looks like Barca had 0 leverage in this deal (understandable) and Atletico wanted to get rid of Saul anyway. Imo I don't think Koeman had much say in this deal.

There were many reports before that he approved the deal and thinks.
Quick google:

Ronald Koeman and Diego Simeone have given the thumbs up to a possible swap involving Antoine Griezmann and Saul Niguez, Mundo Deportivo's reliable Javi Gomara and Fernando Polo say.

The Barcelona coach wants a box-to-box midfielder and Saul perfectly meets the profile, it's claimed.

 

[DonAK]

Think Koeman is just hell bent on wanting a box-to-box midfielder like Wijnaldum which is why they might have requested Saul as a part of this deal instead of some other player.

 

[Joan]

Started over two thirds of league games and came on in almost all the others while was starting almost evry CL game could.

That is not a bench warmer.

Was a hyperbole. But as I said, not far from it. He's not the first pick at Atletico and wouldn't be this season either. We're giving them one of our best players, like him or hate him.

 

[messi2140]

There were many reports before that he approved the deal and thinks.
Quick google:

Not sure I can believe those but fair enough.

 

[JamDav1982]

Was a hyperbole. But as I said, not far from it. He's not the first pick at Atletico and wouldn't be this season either. We're giving them one of our best players, like him or hate him.

First pick more than a bench warmer.

 

[Joan]

First pick more than a bench warmer.

Glad you're happy.

 

[JamDav1982]

Glad you're happy.

Doesnt really put me up nor down how much he started last season.