Atletico Madrid midfielder Axel Witsel admits he came close to joining Everton in the past.

Asked whether a move to England was ever on the cards in the past, the Belgian pointed back to the summer of 2016 and a failed move to Everton.

Witsel admitted he had been close to joining a Premier League team in the past, and when asked by ESPN if he could expand, the Belgian said: “Yes, I can.

"It was Everton and one time Tottenham."

Witsel, 33, left Borussia Dortmund over the summer for Atletico.