Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez says current teammate and reported Manchester United target Antoine Griezmann is free to decide his own future, while adding that he would be happy to see Diego Costa return to the club from Chelsea this summer.
Griezmann, 26, has given conflicting messages over his intentions in recent weeks, appearing to suggest that he was open to a move to Old Trafford, while also saying he wanted to stay and win trophies at Atletico.
The France international's future was a discussion point as Saul and Atletico's film producer president Enrique Cerezo welcomed Hollywood star Tom Cruise to the club's almost finished new Wanda Metropolitano stadium on Monday.
MOVIE VISIT ��@TomCruise and the team of #TheMummy were impressed with their visit to the Wanda @Metropolitano! pic.twitter.com/oeHFBJT49E
- Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) May 29, 2017
Speaking to AS at the event, the homegrown midfielder said: "In the end, [Griezmann] can manage his future as he wants himself. At the moment, he is with us, we expect to see him at preseason. But in the end it is his future, and he will decide. If Griezmann goes, we have [Fernando] Torres, [Kevin] Gameiro, [Angel] Correa, [Yannick] Carrasco ... He is a very important player for us, we know the quality he has, but the most important thing is not the players, it is the club, Atletico Madrid, that is above all."
Spain striker Costa said at the weekend he could return to the club where he won a Copa del Rey and La Liga title during a four season stint earlier in his career, although the financial realities at Atletico make a deal difficult to envision.
"If he can be signed, if he comes, Diego Costa would be well received," Saul said. "He knows the place, we know him, and he would not take long to fit into the play of Atletico Madrid."
The 22-year-old -- who has himself been linked with clubs such as Manchester United, Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the past -- explained why players sometimes turn down bigger money elsewhere to remain at Atletico.
"Fernando Torres, Gabi, Koke show the values of Atletico Madrid, a family club, humble, hard-working," he said. "Koke could have earned much more money [at another club] but he prefers to be happy. When you are wearing the jersey that you love, and are getting playing time, in the end you value that much more than other things."
Veteran striker Torres' contract with Atletico is about to end, but Saul said he hoped to see the 33-year-old, around the club for many more years.
"I would give Fernando Torres a contract for life, not just as a player, but as an example for everyone," he said. "He is a very nice guy, really close to the fans, and has inside him the values of Atletico Madrid."
Atletico are still waiting to hear the resolution of their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport of a FIFA-imposed transfer ban before they find out whether they will be able to reinforce their squad this summer, but Saul is confident in the squad as it is.
"We have seen we have a squad which, despite the difficulties and injuries this season, knew how to work hard and give everything," he said. "We achieved our objective in La Liga, reached the semifinals in the Champions League. If we cannot sign anyone, we will still go into next season excited."