Saul Niguez—or Saul, as he's known—had already made his debut for Atletico Madrid when he was farmed out on loan for a season across the city to Rayo Vallecano. It was the summer of 2013. He was still only 18 years old.
During pre-season training, Rayo's squad was doing some running exercises one morning. In the afternoon, there was a friendly match organised. It gets damn hot in Madrid during the summer. The old bucks on the panel were just going through the motions, keen to keep something in the tank for later.
Saul, who knows no other way, was busting a gut.