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From the latest transfer news, quizzes, videos, features and interviews with the biggest names in the game, plus lots more.Signup +Once a week...And its LIVE!Sign up to our FREE live football newsletter, tracking all of the biggest games available to watch on the device of your choice. Never miss a kick-off!Signup +Join the clubGet full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in.Subscribe to our newsletterWhen Saul Niguez arrived on loan at Chelsea in August 2021, hopes were high at Stamford Bridge that the Blues had landed a genuine difference-maker.During the previous decade, the midfielder had been one of Atletico Madrids best players, impressing on both the domestic and international fronts, not least in Atletis 2020/21 La Liga winning campaign.But what followed was a season shaped by injury, illness and unprecedented events off the pitch for the west London side.Article continues below You may like �19m Chelsea youngster admits losing identity during Stamford Bridge dark days I was fined by Manchester United. I went to Jose Mourinho and said, Listen, if I pay this, Ill never play for this club again. Something like that would never have happened at Chelsea Nemanja Matic on the difference between his two English clubs My dad worked as an electrician at Stamford Bridge. Ive never lacked anything because my parents have always been there for me Nico Williams on his fathers Chelsea background Niguez opens up on his Chelsea issuesI wanted to learn English and experience the Premier League, just as Fernando Torres, my idol, had done, the 19-time Spain international tells FourFourTwo when asked about how his loan move to Chelsea came about.As well as wanting to follow in the footsteps of one of his most celebrated countrymen, Saul admits that there were also more practical reasons behind the transfer.At the same time, Atletico had made a huge financial effort to bring back Antoine Griezmann and I was encouraged to leave.Joining the reigning European champions felt like a good move to keep growing as a player, even though I knew how difficult it would be to earn a place in the team, with a coach who already trusted certain players, he adds, knowing that competition for places would be fierce.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Id gone to London on loan with an optional �30 million purchase clause, which the club told me they intended to activate. Under Thomas Tuchel, I learned a lot and enjoyed playing with the team.As well as getting to play under the now-England boss, the 31-year-old also enjoyed early successes, not least winning the Club World Cup in February 2022. However, any personal momentum was quickly lost as circumstances proceeded to conspire against him.We made two domestic cup finals and won the Club World Cup, he continues. But COVID hit me, I got ill, lost my place, and due to Russias invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions imposed [because of Roman Abramovichs ownership], the club werent able to sign me permanently.These geopolitical events would soon mark the end of the Abramovich era at Chelsea, closing the book on one of English footballs most seismic turning points.And as well as ending Sauls hopes of joining Chelsea permanently, they also affected daily life around the club, with one small detail a particularly telling sign of just how bizarre the situation was.Even my wife had to stop going to the club gym near Stamford Bridge as they could no longer pay the fees, Saul adds.TOPICSChelseaPremier LeagueJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromDani Gil
