Espanyol defender Mario Hermoso has played down suggestions that he could re-join Real Madrid this summer.

The 23-year-old came through the youth system at the Bernabeu before joining Espanyol in the summer of 2017.

The Spaniard has impressed during his time with the Catalan outfit, leading to claims that Madrid want to re-sign the centre-back at the end of the 2018-19 campaign.

Hermoso, though, has said that he will remain with Espanyol 'unless the club decide to kick him out'.

"Of course I see myself here next year, unless Espanyol wants to kick me out," OK Diario quotes Hermoso as saying. "I have a contract until 2020 and as long as nothing strange happens I will continue here.

"There always has to be something to talk about. My idea is that I am happy here, I am comfortable, I have a fantastic opportunity to continue improving here. As I said, Espanyol have given me the opportunity to compete in La Liga, to fulfil a dream and I will always be grateful to this team and the club."

Hermoso, who is a two-time Spain international, has scored three times in 25 La Liga appearances for Espanyol this term.