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La Liga

Oct 15, 2016 at 5.30pm UK

Atletico Atletico Madrid
7-1
Granada

Carrasco (34', 45', 62'), Gaitan (63', 82'), Correa (85'), Tiago (87')

FT(HT: 2-1)

Bueno (18')

Reaction

Football

Diego Simeone pays tribute to Yannick Ferreira Carrasco

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 16 October 2016

Atletico Madrid attacker Yannick Ferreira Carrasco has the ability to rise to the top of the sport, according to his head coach Diego Simeone.

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has said that Yannick Ferreira Carrasco has the potential to be "whatever he wants to be" after hitting a hat-trick in Saturday's 7-1 win over Granada in La Liga.

The Belgian international has been linked with both Barcelona and Chelsea in recent weeks after it became clear that the 2015 signing from AS Monaco has a release clause in his current deal in the region of £34m.

However, Atletico are said to be in the process of offering the 23-year-old a new long-term contract and following his treble against Granada, Simeone has lavished praise on the attacker.

"I'm very happy for him," Simeone told reporters. "It's been a daily struggle for him to be what he was in this match. He's a very complete player, with very good scope for growth. He can be whatever he wants to be, he listens, has goals in him and is brimming [with quality]."

Amid talk of interest from Barcelona and Chelsea, Carrasco said that he was 'happy at Atletico' when questioned on his future last week.