Saul Niguez speaking to the media after joining Flamengo in Brazil
Former Atletico Madrid icon Saul Niguez has reignited one of football’s fiercest rivalries — from thousands of miles away.
Now plying his trade in Brazil with Flamengo, the Spanish midfielder has taken a bold swipe at Real Madrid, claiming the European champions lack real fans and genuine stadium passion when compared to South America’s footballing giants.
And unsurprisingly, the comments have set social media alight.
Speaking ahead of Flamengo’s upcoming high-profile clash with Paris Saint-Germain, Saul was asked to compare the stature and support of his current club with that of Real Madrid.
His response was blunt — and brutal.
“It is more than Madrid,” Saul said.
“In reality, Madrid has no fans. Madrid is famous, yes, for what it has won and it is known all over the world and that is why it has followers. But you go to the stadium and you feel nothing.”
For a player who made over 400 appearances for Atletico Madrid, the words carry extra weight — and sting.
Saul contrasted what he described as the “silent” atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu with the overwhelming intensity of Flamengo supporters.
According to the 31-year-old, Brazilian football delivers a connection between club and fans that European giants simply cannot replicate.
“You go to the Maracana, an emblematic stadium, and it is always full,” he explained.
“Away from home, the ground is full of Flamengo fans.”
He went on to highlight the sheer scale of Flamengo’s travelling support.
“We recently played against Sport Recife and they sent us to another stadium because otherwise our fans wouldn’t fit — and that’s after a three-and-a-half-hour flight.”
For Saul, moments like that define what a true fanbase looks like.
The Spaniard didn’t stop there. He compared Flamengo’s following with other major South American clubs to underline his point.
“You go to Lima and our fans fill it 100%. And then you see that Palmeiras doesn’t fill it… You say: ‘This is a big fanbase’.”
It is a statement that elevates Flamengo’s global standing — while deliberately poking at Real Madrid’s image as football’s biggest institution.
Saul’s comments arrive as Flamengo prepare for a Intercontinental Cup final against PSG, where he is set to face Luis Enrique, the coach who previously worked with him during his time with the Spanish national team.
Despite his fiery words about Madrid, Saul had nothing but respect for the PSG boss.
“He has a lot of personality and transmits it to his team,” Saul said.
“They are young players, but with experience. He has many solutions. It is going to be very difficult.”
Saul Niguez’s remarks go beyond rivalry banter. They tap into a long-running debate in world football:
Is global popularity the same as genuine fan passion?
For Saul, the answer is clear — and it wears red and black in Rio de Janeiro.
Whether Real Madrid fans agree is another matter entirely.
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