With the Champions League final only a few days away, both Real and Atlético Madrid are spoilt for top-line talent.
The Madridistas are renowned for sparkling quality in attack with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, while Diego Simeone’s Atléti rely heavily on the team’s spine, namely Diego Godin, team captain Gabi, along with the outrageously talented duo Koke and Antoine Griezmann.
These performers all share a common burden – the weight of expectation is firmly on their shoulders to produce a winning contribution in Milan.
However, this assertion is a lazy one largely produced by the media and demanding supporters. The fact is, the depth of quality in Spain’s elite is such that fringe talent could easily find a starting spot at most sides in the Serie A, English Premier League and Bundesliga. A match-winner could quite easily come from outside the quartet of Ronaldo/Bale/Torres/Griezmann.
In this two-part series, we look at two stars who fill the supporting roles of Saturday’s finalists. First up it’s Atléti’s exciting midfield dynamo, Saúl Ñíguez.
The technical midfielder rose to global prominence with a superb tie-defining solo effort against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final. Saúl is no longer Atléti’s secret. The highly coveted 21-year-old youth product is, despite being a former Real youth product before Atléti pounced in 2008, adored by fans after graduating from the Atlético Madrid B, to solidify his place in the first-team.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRHeDX_ran0
Struggling for appearances in a star-studded midfield at age 18, Diego Simeone opted to send the starlet on loan to La Liga outfit Rayo Vallecano. It was a move that worked for all parties.
Saúl refined his already impressive game at a side that is as dedicated to free-flowing football as any other in the division.
Not blessed with a rich owner, Rayo’s philosophy to persist with a high pressing, intricate and sometimes risky passing game saw Paco Jemez’s outfit concede a league-high 80 goals, but managed a highly respective 12th placed finish by consistently defeating teams around them or lower on the table. Saúl was a mainstay in Jemez’s side, making 37 appearances and scoring twice.
READ MORE
Why Atlético Madrid’s defence is the best in European football
La Liga – Real Madrid 2015-16 report card
Atléti head to Milan seeking redemption
The team might have pushed as high as eighth but failed to pick up a point in the final three games with little to play for – European competition was out of reach and the squad was safe from relegation.
This was an important stage in Saúl’s development. Simeone is arguably the most demanding manager in the world, and the luxury of fielding the Messi and Ronaldo’s of this world means that if his side are to match Real Madrid and Barcelona, his side must defend more tenaciously, think quicker and maintain a cutting edge.
The defensive discipline was already drummed into Saúl by the time he left for Rayo. When he returned, his passing game had reached a new level and it continues to improve. In the coming years, it is not fanciful for Saúl to continue his upward trend and become one of Europe’s truly complete midfielders.
He went from strength to strength after his return to Madrid in 2014, managing 34 appearances that season, with the highlight being a bicycle kick in the 4-0 el Derbi madrileño triumph.
Saúl’s 34 appearances was bumped up to 47 this season, as the Elche-born midfielder established himself as an integral cog in Simeone’s industrious but fluent midfield.
The last month has been especially kind. After condemning European giants Bayern to a semi-final exit, Saúl has been rewarded with an extended contract which will keep him in Madrid until 2021, a reaction to Vincente Del Bosque naming the uncapped midfielder in the provisional Spain squad for Euro 2016.
A strong showing against arch-rivals Real Madrid on Saturday will go a long way to guaranteeing his spot on the plane, but it is certainly his toughest test, and biggest match of his career to date against the team he left as a 13-year-old boy.
Tomorrow, we take a look at Real Madrid’s Lucas Vasquez.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
