By Daily Sports on April 20, 2020

Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata has spoken of his regret at leaving the club's academy when he was climbing through the youth ranks.

Morata was a boyhood Atleti fan but left for Getafe in 2007 before joining Real Madrid a year later. In two spells with Los Blancos, Morata won two La Liga titles, two Copas del Rey and two Champions League medals.

Between those stints, Morata collected two Serie A titles and two Coppa Italia crowns with Juventus and went on to endure an indifferent spell with Chelsea before re-joining Atleti in January 2019.

Spain striker Morata says he is now happier than at any other point of his career.

“When I was a kid, I was a ballboy at Atletico,” Morata said during an Instagram Live video with tennis player Fabio Fognini. “Then I went through a period where I didn’t enjoy it so much. You know, it's the path a young kid goes down to be a professional.

“You start with agents, sponsors. I felt a lot of pressure, I wasn't starting games.

“I thought about leaving. Then I spent a year at Getafe and, you know what, it was an amazing year. Then I went to Real Madrid, but my dad and I used to go to the Vicente Calderon and I dreamed of playing there.

“However, unfortunately, I had to play there for other clubs and not with Atletico, but I always wanted to. What I have lived stays, but now I am happier than ever.”

Morata also spoke about the toughest defenders he has faced in his career.

“[Giorgio] Chiellini, I don’t know if he does it on purpose, but when he meets me, he always destroys me,” Morata said with a laugh. “Sergio Ramos is also a tough defender, while when you go against [Virgil] Van Dijk it seems like you hit a mountain.”

Morata moved back to Atletico on an initial 18-month loan deal from Chelsea in January 2019, with the deal currently scheduled to be made permanent with a £50 million transfer in July this year. (Goal)

•PHOTO: Alvaro Morata 

Source Daily Sports

Posted April 20, 2020

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