Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke hopes to keep making history with the club and says he could stay for the rest of his career.
Koke has given an interview to a Spanish magazine Minuto 116, with excerpts published by AS.
Asked if he sees himself staying at Vicente Calderon for life, the Spain international confirmed he was open to the idea.
“Maybe, why not? I have a long contract and I want to see it through because Atleti is my home,” Koke said.
“We’re doing big things as a team in a very nice project and hopefully I can be here for many years.
“The team is making history and hopefully it lasts many years because what we are achieving is very good.”
Diego Simeone has been the driving force behind Atletico’s success and Koke revealed he won over the squad as soon as he was appointed.
“From the first moment, we believed in Simeone, in the way he sees football, and we are where we are because we never think past the next game.
“We’ve not thought about who we’ll get in the Champions League quarter final.
“It will be a very nice experience whoever we play but we have to go game by game. We must not deviate from that. That’s what has brought us here.”
Simeone has been especially complimentary towards Koke, predicting he will be one of the best players in his position in the world.
“That’s a major compliment [from the Coach] and what he’s given to us, not just me but my teammates, is spectacular but now we have to work with humility,” Koke added.
“It’s flattering [to be compared with Milinko Pantic], one of the best players in the history of the club, but Pantic is Pantic.
“I want to be remembered as Koke. He had his turn and now it’s mine.”
Koke is also in the frame to be part of the Spain squad at the World Cup but believes performances over the final weeks of the season will decide that.
He also welcomed Atletico teammate Diego Costa into the fold and believes he will have no problem settling in with La Roja.
“It’s true I have the confidence of [Vicente Del Bosque] but I don’t know if I’ll be in the squad.
“It will depend on these last two months, on how the team is and how things go. I hope I am there.
“It’s better to have Diego Costa with you then against you,” Koke argued.
“He’s a great player and has been from the beginning. He joined with the Barcelona players, the Real Madrid players, with everyone. Off the field he’s an amazing guy.”
