Diego Simeone confident of keeping Saul Niguez at Atletico Madrid

Saul Niguez celebrates after giving Atletico Madrid the lead against Bayern Munich in their Champions League semi-final at the Vicente Calderon on April 27, 2016
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Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is "not afraid" that Saul Niguez will leave the Vicente Calderon at the end of the season.

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has insisted that he is "not afraid" that Saul Niguez will leave the Vicente Calderon.

The 21-year-old scored the winner as Atletico recorded a 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final in the Spanish capital on Wednesday night.

In total, the midfielder has nine goals to his name this season and both Manchester United and Barcelona have been strongly linked with the youngster in recent months. Simeone, however, has played down suggestions that Atletico could be forced to sell Saul at the end of the season.

"We are in a situation with young players, very young, with a great present and an even better future, all based on their day-to-day work. Saul has a very good present and the best thing for him is to stay away from all the talk about him. I am not afraid he will move to another team," Simeone told reporters.

According to a report in Spain, Barcelona have a first-option clause on Saul, who is under contract at Atletico until 2020.

Saul Niguez celebrates after giving Atletico Madrid the lead against Bayern Munich in their Champions League semi-final at the Vicente Calderon on April 27, 2016
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