Reported Manchester United target Koke says he has no intention of leaving Atletico Madrid this summer, or any time soon.
• Horncastle: Diegos inspire Atleti again
The 22-year-old has been a revelation in midfield for Atletico this season, cementing a regular place in the side and providing key goals and assists in recent outstanding performances against Real Madrid in La Liga and AC Milan in the Champions League.
Such displays have attracted interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, with United manager David Moyes paying a visit to watch the player in December.
However, the former Atletico youth-teamer, who last summer signed a long-term deal which runs until 2018, told Minuto 116 that he could see himself spending his entire career at the Estadio Vicente Calderon.
“I could stay here my whole career,” Koke said. “I have a long contract at the moment, and I want to see it out as Atletico is my home. We are putting together a great side, the project is very attractive, and I hope I can stay here for many years.”
This week’s 4-1 dismantling of Milan brought a 5-1 aggregate score, and means a first Champions League quarterfinal in 17 years for the club.
The Madrid-native said whoever came next, Atletico would not change their game-to-game approach to the competition.
“We will see what team we get in the draw, and how we approach that, because the best teams will be in there,” he said. “It will be a very nice experience and I hope we can go through. We must keep going game by game and not get distracted from this, that is what has brought us this far.”
Koke, who has also become a fixture in Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque’s squads over the last 12 months, said he was not yet sure if he would be chosen for the summer’s World Cup in Brazil.
“It is true that I have had the confidence of the coach, but I do not know if I will go,” he said. “It will depend on these last two months, how the team is, and how I am playing. I hope to be there.”