Atletico Madrid player returns for pre-season amid ongoing talks to terminate his contract

Atletico Madrid’s pre-season schedule got underway on Thursday, and one of the novelties was the return to Saul Niguez. The 29-year-old has already been told that he has no future at the club, and a departure is currently in the process of being sought.

As confirmed by Diario AS, discussions are ongoing to terminate Saul’s contract, which is due to expire in 2026. Atleti are willing to pay €6-7m to ensure his immediate exit, although Saul is said to want €9m.

If an agreement can be reached in the coming days, it would be incredibly significant for Los Colchoneros. Currently, Saul is one of the highest earners in Atleti squad, netting a salary of €15m per year. If they can avoid paying him €30m over the final two seasons of his contract, it would be a huge relief – and it would also ensure that extra funds are available for the ongoing summer transfer window.

Once Saul’s exit from Atletico Madrid is confirmed, he will join Sevilla. He’s already agreed a three-year contract at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, and given the current lack of midfield options in Francisco Javier Garcia Pimienta’s squad, he’ll likely be an important player there.