Man City’s transfer policy has been brilliant over the last couple of years, but is their latest reported move the right one? According to ESPN, the Citizens are keen on Atletico Madrid ace Saul Niguez, with Pep Guardiola eager to bring him in this summer.
Saul is a fantastic player, and he’s earnt the right of City’s interest throughout a few brilliant years in Spain – but is he right for the club?
The quality that is on display in the first team at the Etihad is remarkable, and only a select few players will ever be good enough to play under Pep Guardiola. On top of that, however, an even smaller number of players would work in his current system, and that’s where the question lies.
Is Saul what City need? There’s certainly an argument to suggest that he’s not…
Is he actually a defensive midfielder?
Saul Niguez is a fantastic player, there’s no denying that. He’s a star in the Atletico Madrid first team, and City would not be willing to spend so much money on him if he wasn’t a good player.
However, is he what City need right now?
The Citizens are currently seeking a replacement for Fernandinho, and the jury is certainly out as to whether Saul is the right player for that task.
After all, there’s an argument to suggest that he’s best when the ball is at his feet and when he’s moving towards goal. He pops up with important goals and assists in big games, and he’s a strong player when looking to transition from midfield to attack.
Certainly, he works hard defensively, but that can only get you so far. Is he a defensive midfielder in the same mould as Fernandinho? Certainly not. For example, he’s been dribbled past 1.6 times per 90 minutes on average, according to Who Scored, whilst Fernandinho has suffered the same fate less than once per 90 minutes. Meanwhile, Fernandinho has been dispossessed just 0.5 times per 90 minutes on average, as per Who Scored, whilst Saul sits at 1.1 times per 90 minutes.
Does he have the defensive nouse to take over this position? It truly remains to be seen. He’s got the attributes, but he’s hardly the perfect fit, as Fernandinho has been.
Adaptability
For all of Saul Niguez’s talents, the system that he plays at Atletico Madrid isn’t at all similar to that which he would have to work with at Man City. City rely heavily on passing, controlling possession and being creative, whilst Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid have far more of a robust, physical approach. They’re not a defensive team by any means, but they’re far less focused on flair than City are.
This is, naturally, going to pose a challenge for Saul as he looks to adapt to the new system. Given how important the role is, he’s arguably the most significant player on the field, and for him not to be completely familiar with the system could be a pretty major problem for Pep Guardiola.
Add to this the fact that Saul isn’t experienced in England, which will pose another challenge for him, and his task becomes even more difficult. Adapting to England or adapting to an entirely new system on their own are doable, but both at the same time? It won’t be easy.
That’s not to say that he won’t be able to adapt, but it’s not going to be simple for City. If they want an immediate improvement on Fernandinho, Saul probably isn’t Pep Guardiola’s man.
