The Atleti head coach leaves the door open for a potential exit from the club for the midfielder.
Diego Simeone has acknowledged the Saul Niguez to FC Barcelona rumors as he refuses to rule out a move away from Atletico Madrid for the player.
Saul is reportedly attracting interest from several European powerhouses this summer, with one of them being Barcelona.
It has been suggested the Spaniard could be used as a makeweight in a swap deal with Barca involving Antoine Griezmann, who swapped Wanda Metropolitano for Camp Nou back in 2018.
The 26-year-old still has five years remaining on his Los Rojiblancos contract, having put pen to paper on a lengthy nine-year deal four years ago.
“I have spoken with him and we cannot put aside what is rumored and talked about,” Simeone told of Saul in an interview with AS.
“If you stay, to work as you have always done and if you leave, the door will be open in the best way.
“We have been together for eight years, I think we gave him everything we had as a coach and he [gave us everything] as a footballer.
“If he stays, he has to work without giving anything away in competition with many people in the midfield and if he has to go out, a big hug, wish him the best with the boys who gave us life and to continue being friends, as always. Either to Barcelona or elsewhere.”
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