Griezmann should stay at Atletico Madrid – Torres
Kane, Lukaku lead PFA nominees
Antoine Griezmann has “the world in his hands” at Atletico Madrid and does not need to leave the La Liga side to become a legend, says Fernando Torres.
The France forward has been strongly linked with Manchester United.
Ex-Liverpool striker Torres told BBC Football Focus he faced a similar juncture before a £50m move to Chelsea in 2011, but insists the 26-year-old can realise his potential at Atletico.
“Where are you going to go to improve what you have in Atletico?” he said.
“Not many places in the world. I hope he can stay with us forever.”
Griezmann scored his 24th goal of the season for Atletico as Diego Simeone’s side beat Leicester City 1-0 in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday.
Torres, back at the club where he began his career, says it is no wonder interest in the France international is high.
“That’s normal when young players become one of the best in the world, everyone wants to sign them,” the 33-year-old said. Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku have been nominated for both the Professional Footballers’ Association player of the year and young player awards.
They join Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alexis Sanchez, Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante on the shortlist for the main prize.
Michael Keane, Leroy Sane and Jordan Pickford are up for the young player of the year award, alongside 2016 winner Dele Alli.
The winners, voted for by PFA members, will be announced on 23 April.
Women’s Super League champions Manchester City have three players on the shortlist for the women’s award, with the City trio of Lucy Bronze, Jane Ross and Jill Scott joined by Karen Carney, Ellen White and Caroline Weir.
City also provide a trio of nominees for the women’s young player of the year prize - Nikita Parris, Georgia Stanway and Keira Walsh - with Weir, Millie Bright and Jess Carter completing the nominations.
Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez won the 2016 player of the year award, while Manchester City forward Izzy Christiansen won the women’s award.
Sunderland striker Beth Mead, 20, was named women’s young player of the year.