Atletico Madrid veteran Vitolo says coach Diego Simeone will go down as a genuine legend.

Vitolo is expected to leave when his deal expires in June, but his relationship with Simeone is rock solid.

He told AS: "Simeone's work is incredible. In today's football, with a lot of wear and tear, there are few coaches who last as long on a team. Few realise what Simeone is doing, but when the years pass, we will look back and we will really see the work that he has done.

"I'm really enjoying the team's game.

"Each coach has 25 players and everyone thinks they have to play. Even though I haven't played with him much in recent years, my relationship with Simeone is very good. I stopped by the sports city a few weeks ago and was talking to him. I don't hold any kind of grudge against him, quite the opposite.

"He gave me the opportunity to play on a very great team, and I feel honored to have been coached by him. I wish him the best always."