Javier Hernández is unsure whether he will remain at Manchester United next year, but Atlético Madrid are willing to offer the Mexican an escape route from Old Trafford should he decide to leave.

Hernández flew out to the United States to join the club’s pre-season tour but he has so far made only two brief substitute appearances.

Even though the new manager, Louis van Gaal, prefers to play with two strikers, Hernández still faces stiff competition from Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Wilfried Zaha for a first-team place.

After United’s penalty shootout win over Inter Milan on Tuesday night, Hernández was asked if he saw his future at Old Trafford.

“The future, only god knows,” he said.

When pressed on his limited match time under Van Gaal, the striker responded: “There is competition here and I will continue to work hard as I always do.”

Hernández was an instant hit at United after his surprise move from his home-town club Guadalajara in 2011.

But the signing of Van Persie and the emergence of Welbeck has caused the Mexican to start just 15 Premier League games in the last two seasons.

Van Gaal was asked after the friendly win in Washington whether he would consider selling Hernández.

He replied: “That I cannot answer because he is a player of Manchester United at this moment.”

The latter part of the answer seemed to suggest Hernandez could be on his way out of United and there are plenty of interested parties, chief among them Atlético.

The Spanish champions have already brought in the forwards Mario Mandzukic and Antoine Griezmann this summer to compensate for the departures of Diego Costa, David Villa and Adrián López, but Diego Simeone revealed he is still looking for an extra forward.

The Atlético coach thinks Hernández would be an asset for his side.

“He’s a vertical player, he’s great in one-on-one situations and he’s someone who could be useful to any team,” the Atlético coach told a press conference in Mexico, before his team’s pre-season friendly with Club América.

“We are speaking to the sporting directors about the type of player we want and then it’s up to them to bring the player in. With Javier Hernández and lots of other great players, anything is possible. We can’t close any door until the transfer window shuts.”

Internazionale are also reported to be interested in Hernández’s signature.

Their defender Nemanja Vidic, who played alongside Hernández at Old Trafford for three years, appears open to the idea of ‘Chicharito’ coming to Inter.

“He is a great player,” Vidic said after Tuesday’s game, which went to penalties after a goalless stalemate over 90 minutes.

“He is a Manchester United player but he can play in any team. He is a great professional. That is all I can say.”