EXCLUSIVE
Saul Niguez is looking forward to taking his first steps in Atletico Madrid's new stadium next year - but he hopes he will be doing so alongside the in-demand Antoine Griezmann.
The France international has become one of football's hottest properties thanks to his stunning form at the Estadio Vicente Calderon.
Manchester United are just one of the sides interested in luring him away from Atletico, who signed the forward from Real Sociedad back in 2014.
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But Saul believes it would be a great boost to see Griezmann line up in the Estadio Wanda Metropolitana when it is inaugurated in 2017-18.
"Will Griezmann be here next year? We do not know that. Neither you nor me," the Spain Under-21 player told Goal.
"But every time he talks, he always shows his appreciation to the club, he is happy, he is happy with the players, his life in Madrid is very beautiful, and he is very happy. I think he's happy. "
"If it were up to me, Griezmann would be with me next year!"
Both Griezmann and Saul were key in Atletico's second Champions League final appearance under Diego Simeone last season, where the Spaniards lost out to city rivals Real Madrid.
But the playmaker is taking nothing for granted this time round, as Premier League champions Leicester City lie in wait in the quarter-finals.
"We do not consider ourselves favorites against Leicester. They are the champions of England, we know how they play, we know that they can do a lot of damage with their counterattack," he explained.
"It will be a very difficult tie for both teams. It's going to be very tough.
"We would give everything [to make another final]. But there’s a lot to play until then. You have to go step by step. It's important not to lose that philosophy of going game by game, so then, we can try to think about the final."
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