Saul Niguez to Manchester United: Atletico Madrid midfielder commits future to Spanish club amid Red Devils interest

Manchester United's plans of securing a move for Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez have been derailed after the Spaniard revealed that he intends to remain with the Spanish capital club beyond the summer. He is also confident that he will get his chance with the national team sooner rather than later after he was axed from Vicente del Bosque's final 23-man squad for the European Championships beginning in France on 10 June.

According to the Daily Mail, Jose Mourinho has made the Atletico star a priority target during the summer transfer window and was ready to meet the midfielder's £54m ($80m) release clause to bring the versatile midfielder to Old Trafford. Niguez is a versatile player, who can operate centrally in midfield or play out wide, while also possessing a keen eye for goal. He scored nine goals in the past season including an astute finish during Atletico's first-leg Champions League win over Bayern Munich.

The 21-year-old, who recently committed his future to the two-time Champions League finalists until the summer of 2021, has made it clear that he sees his future at the Vicente Calderon outfit. The Spain U21 international also wants Diego Simeone to stay at the club, after he indicated that he will consider his future following their loss to Real Madrid in the finals of the Champions League, for the second time in three seasons.

"I'm fine in Madrid, I play often and I'm happy. Atletico is the club where I intend to stay. Simeone? We all want him to stay," Niguez told AS, as quoted by the Sun.

"I would have liked to have been called up by Del Bosque but for me it was already an award to be in the preliminary squad."

"Now I have to work hard with Atletico because sooner or later my chance will come," the Atletico midfielder added.