Saul: Brazilian league football level may be close to Europe, but the facilities are not good + the lawn is poor

September 20th News Saul, a former Atletico midfielder and currently playing for flamenco, accepted an exclusive interview with the Ass and talked about his new life in Brazil.

You have been in Brazil for two months. How are you adapting?

At the football level, the adaptation process is easy because I have very good teammates and an incredible coach. Everyone is very good to me in terms of life and language. The most difficult part is to settle down, such as finding a house, settling down your children to school, etc. But everything is on track. When transferring, the outside world thought you would go to Türkiye. What made you finally choose Flamengo? Is Felipe-Louis's call decisive?

Indeed, my transfer negotiations with Trabzon Sports have been very deep, and that offer is more expensive and the contract is longer. But when Flamengo showed interest in me, the decision became relatively easy. I understand what kind of person is behind the coach. To be honest, Felipe didn't call me during the negotiations, he only sent me a photo of the training ground and said nothing else. My decision is much more than just because he is here, of course, having someone you know is there, it will really make everything much more convenient.

How big do you think is the gap between the Brazilian League and the top five European leagues?

I think the overall level is not (close) yet. It may be close at football level and can even compete, but in terms of facilities, especially the venue. Flamenco's training center is good, but if you go to other stadiums, the natural lawns can be in poor condition, and there are even three or four teams using artificial lawns. This is unimaginable in the five major leagues. If Brazil can change that, I think more people will be willing to play here.

What are your goals for the future in flamenco?

I hope this will not be the last stage of my career. I am almost 31 years old now and I still have a long way to go. I won't think too far, my focus is on enjoying every day. The team is very solid now and in good shape. The next few games will determine the direction of the whole season and we have to go all out.