Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone says losing Lucas Hernandez to Bayern Munich this summer was their biggest loss.

Simeone says his departure hurt more than Antoine Griezmann's move to Barcelona.

"The exit that hurt us the most was Lucas, who was a boy from the academy," Simeone told Cadena Ser.

"[It hurt] More than Griezmann."

Despite feeling as though the Frenchman's move to Barcelona wasn't the most painful of their summer losses, Simeone only had good things to say about the new Barcelona forward.

"I've spoken with him on occasion since he left," Simeone revealed.

"He's where he wants to be. He's a humble boy who doesn't speak much, he's calm and cheerful.

"I've no doubt that he'll end up doing well there, but now everything depends on [Ernesto] Valverde, not me."