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Morata: "I want to play more"

The striker gave an interview to Il Corriere dello Sport in which he said he is "happy and keen to win things, but it's true that I'd like to play more".Macedonia-Spain live online

Update:
Morata en el banquillo de Osasuna.
FELIPE SEVILLANODIARIO AS

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11 starts

Álvaro Morata gave an interview to Italian daily,  Il Corriere dello Sport in which he looked ahead to Wednesday's Champions League tie between Real Madrid and Napoli. He also spoke about his memories of former club Juventus, for whom he hold a great fondness. 

Morata has scored 10 goals in the 27 appearances he has made this season, but he has only started 11 matches. Against Osasuna last night, he watched the whole game from the bench. Karim Benzema has been Zidane preferred choice to lead the Madrid attack, having featured 21 times in the starting XI.

Morata celebra un gol con el Real Madrid.
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Morata celebra un gol con el Real Madrid.CURTO DE LA TORREAFP

Morata freely admits that he would like to be seeing more of the action: "I'm happy and I want to triumph at Real Madrid, but it's also true that I would to be playing more. Now we have to try to win the league and the Champions League; after that, we'll see if the coach is counting on me or not" he explained.

Quality side

As for Wednesday's opponents Napoli, Morata said: "They really play the ball around well and with Callejón, Hamsik and Insigne they are very dangerous. Then they have Pavoletti and Milik, who I would imagine shoul be back in the team. They're a great side - I don't think they will be battling for the leeague this season which means they can focus fully on Europe where they will be stronger. They could beat us, but we could also beat them - that's what the magic of the Champions League is all about. 

Morata celebra un gol con la Juventus.
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Morata celebra un gol con la Juventus.MARCO BERTORELLOAFP

"With Juve, we always struggled to beat them and I am sure that Napoli is going to fight right to the death to win this tie. They are a side who I always want to beat - and I have to say, that's probably down to my past with Juventus". 

Soft spot

The 24-year-old says he still has a soft spot for the Bianconeri. "Juve always aspire to the maximum. I have to admit that I really would love to meet them in the final. No one likes to lose a final but if I had to end on the losing side, I'd rather lose to Juventus than anyone else, but first we have to focus on Napoli. If we start thinking about a hypothetical final at this stage, Napoli will knock us out".

Time in Turin

"I'm not Italian but I gave everything defending the Juve shirt and I was willing to stay on there for many years - the club knew that. The only 'but' is that Madrid came knocking, and that was a dream I've had since I was a boy. If it hadn't been for Real Madrid's interest I would have stayed in Turin".

Valuable personal items

To end, Morata says he is as much a football fan as the next man and revealed the mementos which he keeps at home in his own collection: "I've got Pirlo's boots and a pair of Cristiano's - both signed, I've got the Décima ball personally signed by Ramos..." and related meeting Maradona: "I was very nervous, because I was only used to seeing him on television. He's a legend. It makes me feel proud that he said that I need to play more 'because young players need to be given minutes so they can grow'".