Could Alvaro Morata return to Real Madrid this summer?
By Alex McVey
Alvaro Morata left Real Madrid this summer, and since then, things have gone bad for both parties. Could Morata find his way back to Spain this summer?
Alvaro Morata has had an on-off relationship with Real Madrid. Morata got his chops in Real Madrid’s youth system, making the jump to the first team in 2013. But Morata’s playing time was limited, and so Madrid sold him on to Juventus with the option to buy him back.
After scoring the goal that knocked Madrid out of the Champions League, Morata eventually made his way back to the Spanish capital ahead of the 2016-2017 season. Despite his place behind Benzema, Bale, and Ronaldo in the Real Madrid pecking order, Morata found plenty of minutes in Zidane’s heralded B-Team, racking up a boatload of goals along the way.
But with Ronaldo in resurgent form, and Benzema still ahead of him in Zidane’s order of operations, Morata found himself in search of greener pastures. In the summer of 2017, Real Madrid sold Morata to Chelsea for a pretty penny.
Morata’s time in London began swimmingly. Morata was scoring goals left and right, mostly headed goals assisted by Cesar Azpilicueta. But now, the goals have dried up, and Morata is struggling to find the back of the net. Things got so bad with Morata’s goalscoring, that for a while Chelsea looked like they were ready to dip into the EPL’s bargain bin in January to sign Andy Carroll or Peter Crouch to help replace the Spaniard’s missing output.
Morata’s recent troubles at Chelsea, along with a vague answer to some Spanish journalists, have caused a raft of speculation in the transfer tabloids about whether there might be a Madrid return in Morata’s future. The Daily Mail cite an interview that Morata gave to journalist Julio Maldonado, wherein Morata was asked whether he would return to Madrid if he got the call: “‘I have to respect Chelsea who have made a great effort for me. And I’m very happy here. But Madrid is always Madrid.”
He does make a good point: Madrid is always Madrid. The allure of coming back to play for the team he cut his teeth with at the prime of his game will always weigh heavy on Morata’s mind. The dream of becoming Madrid’s next attacking superstar may not be as vivid as it once was, but he still has to think about it from time to time.
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I personally don’t think this one is going to happen. Morata was incredibly lucky to have gotten a second chance at Real Madrid. Few players ever get their first. The idea that he could get shot #3 to make it work seems a bit of a stretch. I think Madrid would be more likely to go after a Harry Kane or a Mauro Icardi before they chase Morata again.