QPR’s Esteban Granero wants to stay despite relegation

Esteban Granero has underlined his desire to stay at Queens Park Rangers despite the west London’s side relegation to the Championship on Sunday.

The Hoops were unable to secure the necessary victory over 20th-placed Reading, with a goalless stalemate at the Madejski Stadium demoting both clubs to England’s second tier.

Granero has endured a difficult first season in English football, starting just 19 Premier League games, after completing a reported £3.5m move to Loftus Road from reigning La Liga champions Real Madrid last summer.

The Spaniard has been linked with a possible switch to Southampton in the summer, but Granero wants to honour the remaining three years of his QPR contract despite moving down a division.

“I signed my contract here for four years,” said Granero.

“I was not thinking about going to the Championship when I joined but that is the reality now. I like life in London. We now prepare for life next season. The club will have to decide, not me.

“Many things have happened during the season and we have not been able to get over them. It is hard to analyse. It is not just one thing that has gone wrong. It is many things together.

“We hope we learn from that and next season we do it another way. It was difficult for us but let’s finish the season properly for the fans. They have been outstanding for us this season and we have felt them behind us from the beginning.”