Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez has claimed that fellow academy graduate Theo Hernandez 'no longer matters' to the club following his switch to rivals Real Madrid.
The 19-year-old completed his move to the Bernabeu on Wednesday afternoon, bringing an end to a decade-long stint with the Rojiblancos.
Saul further enhanced his reputation among Atleti supporters by penning a long-term contract, meanwhile, but he says that the decision made by his former teammate must be respected.
"It is Theo's decision and he will know what he is doing," Saul told reporters. "He is a player who came out of our academy and he has to have respect for where he came from and if he does indeed respect us all that I don't mind where he goes.
"If he doesn't want to be here with us then we are not going to keep him. We will give all our affection to those who do want to be here and those who don't want to be with us don't matter to us."
Reports in the Spanish media suggest that Real will hand over around £23m for Hernandez, who did not make a senior appearance for Atletico prior to being sold.
Daniel Lewis
