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- 36 minutes ago
'Arsenal director Andrea Berta lied to me,' claims former Chelsea star
Tom Weber
- Updated: 15 Oct 2025 18:24 BST
- 4 min read
News
Former Chelsea midfielder Saul Niguez has not forgiven Arsenal director Andrea Berta for the role he played in his departure from Atletico Madrid.
The 30-year-old is now plying his trade in Brazil with Rio de Janeiro giants Flamengo, having seen his hugely promising career stagnate in the 2020s. Saul used to be one of Atletico Madrid's key players in the mid-to-late 2010s, but things went downhill when he left to join Chelsea on loan in 2021.
After also spending some time on loan at Sevilla, he had his contract with Atleti terminated this summer. This had, however, looked inevitable for several years already.
Current ETV
Saúl Ñíguez
M, DM (C)
Flamengo
Saúl Ñíguez
M, DM (C)
Flamengo
ETV Range
€1.9M - €2.8M
All told, Saul made 427 senior appearances for the Spanish capital club across a 17-year spell. If it were up to the former Spain international, he would never have departed Atleti, and he blames the club's former director Andrea Berta, now at Arsenal, for his enforced exit.
"I've always been straightforward. There are other people who haven't been straightforward, and that's what has hurt me the most personally," he said in an interview with El Laguero, hinting at the stark contrast between manager Diego Simeone and director Berta.
Saul: 'Berta wasn't completely honest with me'
He continued: "I was a homegrown player, and I've always tried to help the club, although there are people who accused me of not lowering my salary.
"I've lowered my salary when Atletico asked me to, I've been paid in promissory notes when they've asked me to, and even now I've done things to make it easier for them. I've always said yes to everything. He [Berta] wasn't completely honest with me.
"I've even seen proof. He told me he was, but I've seen proof. I told him not to lie to me. All of that hurt me, because if he had done things right with me, he would have sat down with me, we would have spoken face to face, and we would have found a solution."
Saul says that he has put this episode behind him and is now enjoying life in Brazil. He had the chance to join Trabzonspor in the summer, but when Flamengo came calling, he jumped at the opportunity to play under his former teammate Filipe Luis.
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