Field Insider

Saúl

Experienced headFlamengo · 31 yrsFringe player

based on the 2025 season · updated 20 Aug 2026

Profile

Full nameSaúl Ñíguez Esclapez
PositionAttacking midfielder
NationalitySpain
Age31
Date of birth21 Nov 1994
BirthplaceElche
Height184 cm
Shirt number#8
ClubFlamengo
Attacking midfielder
6
Appearances
0
Goals
1
Assists
123
Minutes

Domestic-league season · Flamengo.

Performance data · by competition

CompetitionAppsGAMinMatch
Serie A6011236.63
CONMEBOL Libertadores200797
Copa Do Brasil100456.9

Scout report

Experienced headBall-winning Attacking midfielder

Saúl is a 31-year-old attacking midfielder at Flamengo, rated 30.1 overall by Field Insider's model. A seasoned veteran, he has been a fringe squad member this season (34.3% of available minutes). Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Saúl.

On the season, Saúl graded 8 for current form (age-blind), on 0 goals and 2 assists in 16 appearances (0.153 involvements per 90).

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 18 → 18). Over the 7 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2023/24.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 30. At 31 Saúl is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 6.4 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report
Read the full career report →

Past his 2023/24 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2023/24Trending downBreakout: 2022/234 clubs
30.1
Ratingi
below regular-starter level
7.5
Seasoni
below regular-starter level
34.3%
Minutes
limited game time
0.15
Goal contrib / 90
low end product

Output in context · Flamengo finished 1st of 20 · a title-challenging side

16
Apps
0
Goals
2
Assists
2
G+A
0
Goals / app

0 goals in 16 appearances (0 per game) — light end product the role wants to see climb. Add 2 assists for 2 goal contributions in all.

Strengths

  • Defensive volume. 4.14 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.

Watch points

  • Game time. Only 34.3% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
  • Output. 0.15 contributions per 90 is light for an attacking role — end product needs to climb.
  • Age curve. At 31, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
  • Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 30.1 overall — below regular-starter level. In the final third he profiles as a work-in-progress on end product (0.15 goal contributions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.9× and falling).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among attacking midfielders in the Serie A with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals0

Passing

Assists2

Defending

Tackles32
Interceptions17
Blocks5

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards3
Red cards0

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.