Alvaro Morata wants a return to Real Madrid
The Juventus striker, named on Tuesday in Spain's Euro 2016 squad, is waiting to find out whether Real Madrid will use a buy-back clause to resign him.
You’ve progressed well in Italy. Madrid sent a boy to Juve, but you’ve come back a man.
It’s been a great experience. I’ve won everything you can in Italy, and on top of that, reached the Champions League final, scored goals and grown as a person as well as a footballer. I’m a different player now to the one that left Real Madrid. I’m not the boy anymore that used to run out with stars in his eyes at the Bernabeu. I’ve shown I can play for a big tem like Juve.
Would you like your future to be sorted before the Euros?
Hopefully it’ll be resolved before the 13th June, the day of Spain’s first game. It’s a bit uncomfortable to be here thinking about helping your country but also having to wait by the phone. Let’s see what happens and where I end up.
Do you want to return to Real Madrid?
It’s clear that’s what I would like the most. That’s my wish, to triumph at Madrid. But there are some amazing players there. Next season I’ll play for the team where I have the most opportunity to play.
Some of the big Premier League teams have also shown interest in you, like Arsenal, Man United and Chelsea. Is England somewhere you might consider going?
There are some tempting offers from England, and not only in terms of the contract. For my style of play and characteristics, I think the Premier League would be a great destination. I’m not saying I want to leave Juventus though, I’ve only good things to say about my time there, but going to the Premier League wouldn’t be a step backwards either. With what I’ve learned in Italy, if I got the opportunity to learn ever more in England I could become a more complete and better player. I’m only 23 and I want to progress, learn from the best and have a good career.
What can we expect from Spain at the Euros?
To do better than Spain have already done in recent years will be difficult, because surpassing what that team achieved is impossible, but we can try to equal it. Germany put faith in their younger players and came out as world champions in Brazil, and that’s what we’ll try to do. We hope we can win the Euros, but we know it won’t be easy. Germany just lost to Slovakia in their friendly, so that gives us lots of belief, but also the knowledge and respect that not one team in France will be pushovers. And of course, you need some luck at these tournaments!
How did you feel watching the Champions League final?
I was very nervous, but in the end I was really happy for Real. I’m a Madridista and I wanted my team to win. But I also felt really sorry for Koke and Saúl, they’re my mates since we were kids. For Koke, I didn’t just feel for him, but his family too. I know he’ll win the Champions League one day though, if not with Atlético then somewhere else. That said, with all the sorrow I felt for the Atleti players, I was over the moon for Carvajal, Nacho, Sergio Ramos and the rest of the lads.