Atletico Madrid President believes Frenchman is world-class

Antoine Griezmann enjoyed his most prolific season ever in 2015/16, but Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo believes he can be even better and that the Frenchman can one day replace Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best in the world.

After scoring 32 goals last season, as well as six at Euro 2016, the 25-year-old etched his name onto the scoreboard again last weekend with a brace against Celta Vigo.

"Griezmann is one of the best players in the world," the Atletico president told Cope radio station's 'El Partidazo' programme.

"He can be the one to replace Messi and Ronaldo."

As well as discussing the club's star forward, Cerezo also talked about their star coach, Diego Simeone.

"[Simeone] is happy and very excited," he revealed.

"At no point [in the summer] did I think he was going to leave."

Los Rojiblancos' tough start to the LaLiga season was another topic of discussion, but the president was content with their opening performances.

"The team looks really good to me," he said.

"It is one of the best squads that Atletico has had in its history.

"The season has just started and I think things have started well, not very well, but well."

Asked about the transfer ban and Atletico's decision to appeal it at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Cerezo seemed pessimistic of securing a positive ruling.

"We are turning to CAS because of the FIFA sanction," the president explained.

"There isn't much chance of it being successful, but we have not committed that many irregularities."

Finally, Cerezo opened up about Atletico's efforts to bring Diego Costa back to the club last summer, explaining that Chelsea simply wouldn't let the Spanish international leave.