Player Focus: Versatile Saúl Best Served Staying to Develop at Atletico

Atletico Madrid returned to third place in La Liga with Saturday’s 2-0 win at Cordoba, winning away from home for the first time since January, but for many onlookers the biggest story of the game was another excellent showing from young midfielder Saúl Ñíguez.

 Saúl’s previous appearance for Atletico saw him on the receiving end of a heavy early challenge from Bayer Leverkusen centre-half Papadopoulos in their Champions League last 16 clash. Despite having trouble breathing the youngster played on for another 20 minutes, before eventually having to be substituted.

He spent that night in hospital having suffered internal bleeding, remaining behind in Germany for extra treatment and then having to spend another week on R&R with his family before returning to training at Atletico.

Saturday at Cordoba was his first game back after such a scare. The 20-year old was outstanding once again, putting in an all-round midfield display earning an 8.23 rating from WhoScored.com. Over the 90 minutes he managed 3 tackles, 3 interceptions, won 3 aerial duels, managed an 80% pass completion rate and most importantly one shot on target - the header for Atletico’s decisive second goal.

Asked afterwards on Spanish radio station El Larguero about how delighted he must be to have returned to action so well, the strikingly mature youngster actually began to explain how he wasn’t really happy with how he had played.

“This is a moment to be very happy, we picked up three very important points,” Saúl said. “Personally, I was able to bring a goal, although I think I should have done some more in the game as, although true I’ve been out a month, in the first half I did not play well. I must keep working to be able to perform at a good level. I demand a lot of myself - you need to do that to play at Atletico Madrid.”

It is difficult to establish yourself, at just 20 and in your first season as a senior squad member, in a team as competitive as Atletico’s - which is battling to retain its La Liga title and again reach the Champions League final. Competition for places have seen Saúl make just seven starts and eight sub appearances in La Liga this season. He has still managed to score four goals - including the spectacular bicycle kick soon after entering as a first half sub in January’s 4-0 ‘derbi’ hammering of Real Madrid.

The athletic and technically gifted youngster came through the ranks playing as a central midfield general -- and plays there for Spain’s Under-21 side. His versatility, however, is such that he played mostly as a centre-back while on loan at Rayo Vallecano last season - when he was almost ever present [34 starts] and scored two goals. This season he has often featured in a wide-midfield position in Simeone’s preferred 4-4-2 shape, playing either to the right or left and slightly advanced of the central pairing.

With an average of just 23.1 passes per game in La Liga - at a 69.4 per cent completion rate - and 0.4 key passes per game, Saúl has not often been involved in the game as a playmaker. He also has completed just 0.1 crosses per game, generally cutting inside to help in the central battle, while leaving the wing free for the overlapping full-back. However his defensive ability is clear given his 1.9 tackles, 0.9 interceptions and 0.8 clearances per game. Going the other way he pops up with 0.9 shots per game and averages 0.7 dribbles as he drives forward from midfield.

Despite standing just under 6 feet tall, he is also a big threat at set-pieces - as shown by his goal on Saturday, when he timed his run perfectly to arrive unmarked to meet a flicked-on long throw and plant a header into the net. This was the latest pre-rehearsed move by Atletico’s training ground maestro Oscar ‘El Profe’ Ortega, and it is significant that the returning Saúl had been designated as the player to convert the chance. He also finished off another similar planned routine in the 4-0 win over Sevilla back in September.

Another who has spotted the huge potential early is Portuguese super-agent Jorge Mendes, who got Saúl onto his books as a teenager, with a third-party investment fund having reportedly taken advantage of Atletico's always perilous financial condition to secure 20% of his “playing rights”. This relationship lead to speculation of a move to Valencia in January, amid hints from Saúl himself that he was unhappy at not starting more, and being asked to play wide. The local media have also spoken of interest from many of England’s biggest clubs through recent months.

Whether coincidence or not, Saúl has featured more since those January rumours - and has played better too. Six of his best eight WhoScored.com ratings have come in his last six appearances in all competitions - making the injury at Leverkusen even more painful when it came.

Simeone said at his news conference after Saturday’s game that he had not thought twice about throwing the fit-again youngster back into the action despite the seriousness of his recent injury.

“He has recovered now,” the Argentine coach said. “He found it difficult in the first half of the game, it was very hot out there. It was not easy to link-up and play. But he arrives well in the box, coming late, he scores goals and he is growing as a player. We need to be allowed to give him things so that he can keep improving. He has a lot of things to give yet.”

The last few sentences of this answer were taken by some observers as a ‘hands off’ warning to anyone thinking of cashing in on the emerging star this summer. Looking slightly further forward, Colchoneros fans and pundits are very much excited about a potentially superb central midfield partnership with fellow local lad Koke - with the duo offering a complimentary mix of athleticism and playmaking ability.

For the moment though perhaps more patience all round is what is required. Simeone clearly likes the ambitious youngster, and sees moulding him into a top player as something of a personal project. The stats suggest Saúl has huge potential, but also that there is plenty of room for improvement in his game. Atletico looks an ideal place for that to happen.

What have you made of Saúl's progression at Atletico this season? Let us know in the comments below