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Euro 2024: Spain’s Alvaro Morata considers Atletico Madrid exit, international retirement over lack of 'respect'
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Published 08/07/2024 at 12:18 GMT+1
Alvaro Morata has endured a difficult relationship with the Spanish national team supporters, having been whistled and jeered on occasions. The 31-year-old striker is at Euro 2024 with his country, and has revealed that a lack of "respect" has led him to consider stepping away from international duty, and also suggested he could leave Atletico Madrid as well.
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Alvaro Morata has hinted that he will leave Atletico Madrid this summer and suggested Euro 2024 will be his last tournament with Spain.
The 31-year-old forward has featured in four out of five of his team’s games in Germany, scoring in the win over Croatia, and is a likely starter against France on Tuesday in their semi-final.
Speaking to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, he said: "It could be [my last tournament with Spain].
"It's a possibility that I don't want to talk about too much, but it's probable."
Morata was whistled by national team fans at Euro 2020 and also earlier this year in a friendly against Brazil at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu.
The forward has played for Real, Juventus and Chelsea as well as Atletico, and he told the paper that he found playing in La Liga difficult.
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"In Spain it's hard for me to be happy," Morata said. "Without doubt [I'm happier outside of Spain]. I've said it many times. Above all, because people respect me. In Spain there's no respect for anything or anyone."
Morata also hit out at suggestions he was in tears against Germany because he had received a yellow card.
"The other day, people said I was crying [on the touchline] because I'd been given a yellow card," he clarified. "What nonsense is that! I was crying because my country, with me as captain, had got into the semifinals. I could never criticise someone who was crying because of that. But I'm criticised, when I'd cut my hand off to win the Euros."
"I try to enjoy this tournament, which could be my last games with the national team, and in the future, what will be, will be," he said. "Maybe one day they'll even miss me. Each day, the moment for leaving is closer, that's why I enjoy it, that's why I cry, that's why I'll cry at whatever comes next, for good or bad."
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While Morata recently said he wanted to win trophies with his current club, he questioned whether that would happen as he considered a move away.
"It isn't nice," he said. "That's why I still think, although I'm focused on the Euros, that I don't know if it's best for me to stay in Spain ... I've said I'm dying to win trophies with Atletico, but then you have to weigh up if it's worth it or not."
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