Atletico Madrid star Saul Niguez has revealed he came close to signing for Fulham when he was 16-years-old, but is glad he never made the move.

Now 22, the Spanish international has attracted the likes of Manchester United and Bayern Munich after his performances in the Spanish capital, and signed a new deal to ward off any new potential suitors.

The Whites, who were in the Premier League at the time under Mark Hughes, had attempted to lure Niguez to the Cottage from Atletico's B team, with a plan to put him into the first team after three months.

However, the move never materialised, something Niguez is glad of looking back.

He told the Daily Mail: "Fulham wanted me when I was 16.

"They were in the Premier League at the time with Mark Hughes and I was close to going.

"They had a plan for me to train with them for three months and then to start playing directly. I could go from the Atletico B team to the Premier League.

"I felt ready to make that jump. Thank God I never went."