Interviews

Alvaro Morata explains decision to stay at Atletico Madrid despite interest from Serie A

Andy Mattioli
TOPSHOT - Atletico Madrid's Spanish forward #19 Alvaro Morata celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 2 group E football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Feyenoord at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on October 4, 2023. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP) (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)

Alvaro Morata addressed the rumors that had linked him with a move back to Serie A in the summer.

The Spanish striker was said to have been unhappy with his limited role in Diego Simeone’s team and had therefore been linked with several Italian clubs including Roma, Inter and Milan.

In an interview with El Larguero, Morata confirmed the rumors, admitting he’d been close to departing Atletico Madrid.

“I wanted to play more,” explained the ex-Juventus attacker. “I had the confrontation I needed with Simeone, with Gustavo López, with Andrea Berta and with Miguel Ángel Gil. I needed to feel important in the club and play more than last year.”

“In fact I think I have never played as often as I have this season with Atletico. I was about to leave because I needed to feel important and this year I feel more important. Simeone and Gustavo López told me they wanted me to stay. We needed to clarify some things, that conversation was necessary. My stay at Atletico depended on that conversation, I renewed my contract twice this summer.”

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