Latest news with #AlvaroMorata
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Morata on Como shortlist despite ongoing Galatasaray commitment
Reports in Italy claim that Spain national team captain Alvaro Morata, who is still owned by Milan, could be an option for Como in the summer transfer window, despite the player's ongoing loan deal with Galatasaray. Morata joined Milan in the last summer transfer window, in 2024, after the Rossoneri agreed to pay the €13m release clause in the Spaniard's contract with Atletico Madrid. Advertisement The first half of the 2024-25 season did not get off to the smoothest of starts for Morata, or for the Rossoneri collectively. Head coach Paulo Fonseca, who had only taken over in the summer, was sacked at the end of December, and Morata followed him out of the door soon afterwards. epa11819103 AC Milan's Alvaro Morata celebrates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Cagliari Calcio, in Milan, Italy, 11 January 2025. EPA-EFE/MATTEO BAZZI In the end, Morata joined Galatasaray on loan with a series of options to buy. Galatasaray paid a fee of €6m to bring Morata in on loan for 12 months, until January of 2026. They have an option to extend that loan deal until June 2026 for an additional €3m, and have options to buy in January 2026 for €8m and in June 2026 for €9m. Morata on Como shortlist for 2025-26 ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 9: Alvaro Moarta of Galatasaray celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Turkish Super League match between Galatasaray and Adana Demirspor at Rams Park Stadium on February 9, 2025 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by) However, according to reports from Morata is also on the shortlist for Como, who are reportedly targeting a spot in the European places in Serie A next season. Advertisement Gianluca Di Marzio adds that there has already been contact between the Spain international and compatriot Fabregas. Cesc Fabregas's side are backed by the wealthiest owners of any club in Serie A, and also have the benefit of a strong relationship between the coach and Morata, who played together at Chelsea and for the Spain national team. PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 26: In this handout image provided by UEFA, Spain players attend a press conference at Stade de France on June 26, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Handout/UEFA via Getty Images) Thursday's report claims that there is a possibility that Como look to interrupt the loan and options to buy agreement between Milan and Galatasaray in order to bring the 32-year-old back to Serie A for the start of the 2025-26 season. Cagliari's Roberto Piccoli has also been mentioned as a possible option for Como.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
‘I just wanted to cry' – Alvaro Morata reveals ‘self-destructive' spell and considered faking injury to skip tournament
ALVARO MORATA contemplated faking an injury to avoid playing at Euro 2024. The Spain striker - who captained his country to glory by beating England - bravely opened up on feeling "depressed" and "mentally broken" during his career. 5 5 5 The revelations are made in a new tell-all documentary called Morata: They Don't Know Who I Am, which details the psychological difficulties he has faced. He named Atletico Madrid's defeat to Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League quarter-final in April 2024 as a particular low point. Morata, 32, said: "You start to feel many things in your body and you don't know why or how. "Your legs hurt. Your chest closes up. You can't breathe. I was afraid of going to sleep and not waking up. I was afraid of everything." After fumbling a one-on-one with Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel early in the second leg in Germany, Morata claims he was unable to focus on the game because he kept mentally reliving the opportunity. He said: "I was not able to follow the ball. "We were not losing the game, but in your head, you had blown the chance to reach a Champions League final with Atletico. "When the game was over, I stayed a long time alone in the dressing room. I just wanted to cry. From there, it all began." In the documentary, Morata claims that he "had a very bad time" during his challenging time as a Chelsea player from 2017 to 2019. And he claims the problems escalated after the former Real Madrid academy graduate joined city rivals Atletico. Morata said: "I had many horrible, self-destructive thoughts. "It passed through my head to fake an injury, so I would not have to go [to the Euros]." Morata informed Spain's doctor, Oscar Celada, on the phone that he was unable to attend the tournament. Celada arranged for Morata to talk to former international team-mate Andres Iniesta, who battled depression during his playing career when his close friend and team-mate Dani Jarque passed away in 2009. Morata was assisted by Iniesta in seeing that he could overcome his issues by contributing well to Spain at the Euros in Germany. In the documentary, Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente also claims that he gave Morata something to strive for by telling him that "the team needed him." The programme shows some of Morata's sessions with his psychiatrist, Pilar de Castro-Manglano, in between Euros matches. De Castro-Manglano said: "Alvaro is currently undergoing repair. 5 5 "It's like a ligament had broken, and you have to learn to walk again, to deal with the difficulties of life in a healthy way. Learning to manage life is difficult, even more in elite people who live in the public eye." Throughout his lengthy international career, the enigmatic striker, currently applying his trade at Galatasaray, has frequently been lambasted for his performances by media and fans. Morata said: "Is it worth playing for Spain if everywhere I go with my family, there are unpleasant incidents, with people insulting you and mocking you? 'If you go to stadiums, wearing the Spain jersey, and fans whistle you and abuse you. It's not worth it. "There are many Spain fans who support me, but also many others who don't want me here. But if I retire from international football, they will win." Since making his international debut in 2014, Morata has scored 37 goals in 86 games for Spain. Most recently, he missed the decisive penalty kick as Spain lost to Portugal in a shootout in the Nations League final. He made a suggestion about leaving the international game after the final whistle. He said: "I feel sorry for my teammates, but that's part of life. "I thank the coach for his words. The penalty? I took it badly, I could have done better, but there's nothing I can do about it. Speaking on his possible retirement, Morata added: "I'm only thinking about what happened today, but it's possible I won't be back in September." You're Not Alone EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers. It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes. And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women. Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now. That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign. The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives. Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You're Not Alone. If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Alvaro Morata admits he was 'depressed' and tried to 'fake an injury' to miss Spain's Euro 2024 win - as he reveals legend helped him through 'self-destructive' era which left him fearing he would die
Alvaro Morata has opened up on a 'self-destructive' period of depression which left him fearing death and making desperate attempts to avoid the game he loves most. The former Chelsea star revealed he called Spain's team doctor to try and fake an injury ahead of their victorious Euro 2024 campaign, where he was their captain. In a searingly honest upcoming documentary, Morata says a torrent of abuse throughout his career rendered him 'mentally broken' and he is still piecing his life back together. Morata's wife Alice Campello has also been through mental troubles and the duo split shortly after Euro 2024, though they have since reunited. He received help from Andres Iniesta, who suffered depression in his playing days after his close friend Dani Jarque died in 2009. 'You start to feel many things in your body and you don't know why or how,' Morata says in the documentary, as quoted by The Athletic. 'Your legs hurt. Your chest closes up. You can't breathe. I was afraid of going to sleep and not waking up. I was afraid of everything.' Morata: They Don't Know Who I Am premieres on Spanish TV channel Movistar Plus+ on June 17. The striker, 32 and now playing for AC Milan, reveals the burden of criticism he received after his then-club Atletico Madrid were knocked out of the Champions League quarter-finals by Borussia Dortmund in 2024. He had missed some chances - in particular a one-on-one with Gregor Kobel plagued his memory - and copped heavy flak in the aftermath. 'I was not able to follow the ball,' he says. 'We were not losing the game but in your head you had blown the chance to reach a Champions League final with Atletico. When the game was over, I stayed a long time alone in the dressing room. I just wanted to cry. From there, it all began. 'I had many horrible, self-destructive thoughts. It passed through my head to fake an injury, so I would not have to go (to the Euros). 'Is it worth playing for Spain if everywhere I go with my family, there are unpleasant incidents, with people insulting you and mocking you? 'If you go to stadiums, wearing the Spain jersey, and fans whistle you and abuse you. It's not worth it. There are many Spain fans who support me, but also many others who don't want me here. But if I retire from international football, they will win.' Morata rang Spain's team doctor Oscar Celada to try and withdraw from the Euros, but he arranged for him to speak with Iniesta. It was just as well that Morata went - he ended up playing in all of their games and was a key focal point, allowing Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Dani Olmo to wreak havoc. He saw a psychiatrist, Pilar de Castro-Manglan, between games at the tournament and enjoyed the 'therapy' of playing golf with team-mates Mikel Oyarzabal and Alex Remiro. Fellow Atletico stars Koke and Miguel Angel Gil, as well as manager Diego Simeone, were also influential figures in helping him to see the light, as was Spain boss Luis de la Fuente. '(Alvaro) is now in a process of repair,' psychiatrist De Castro-Manglano says. 'It's like a ligament had broken, and you have to learn to walk again, to deal with the difficulties of life in a healthy way. Learning to manage life is difficult, even more in elite people who live in the public eye.' Morata's reward for marching on was the 'happiest moment of his career' - Oyarzabal's 86th-minute poke past Jordan Pickford to clinch the 2-1 win over England in Berlin. The pressure of playing for Spain and for Spanish clubs has long weighed on him and he has been abused by supporters in the past. His glittering career has seen him win five league titles: two with Real Madrid, two with Juventus, and one most recently on loan at Galatasaray last season. He also lifted the Champions League twice with Madrid. But the ire he was subjected to by Atletico fans convinced him he had to leave for Milan in 2024. He says: 'I could not risk another depression. I wanted to win trophies with Atletico Madrid, but it was not worth the possibility of going through another bad time. It's not nice for me to say it, but it was the easiest decision to make.' The father-of-four, who married Campello in 2017, also lost his wife in 2023 when she suffered a near-death experience giving birth to their daughter Bella. This is not the first time Morata has opened up on their struggles. Speaking to Spanish radio station Cope last year, he said: 'When you have really tough times, depression, panic attacks, it doesn't matter what job you do, it doesn't matter what situation you have in life, you have another person inside that you have to fight against every day, every night. 'In the end we are what you see on TV, what you see on social networks, but it's a world that is often not real. 'You have to give an image because it's your job and yes, I had a really bad time, I exploded and there came a time when I couldn't lace up my boots. When I laced up my boots I would run home because my throat would close up, I started to see blurry and it's difficult. 'Every time I went out with my children there was some episode with people, sometimes without malice. It reached a point that people said so many things to me that it made me ashamed to be with them. I was an easy joke to make people laugh. 'Often I have crossed the line. [People] have insulted me and I have tried to shame those people who were trying to make me feel bad. The Euros changed my life because they respect me more. That photo as a champion will always be there.'
New York Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Morata considered faking injury to miss Euro 2024 due to depression, he says in new doc
Spain striker Alvaro Morata has said he seriously considered faking an injury to avoid playing at Euro 2024, after an accumulation of criticism suffered during his career left him feeling 'depressed' and 'mentally broken'. The revelations come in a new documentary — Morata: They Don't Know Who I Am — which shows the mental struggles he faced after being criticised for missing chances when his former club Atletico Madrid were eliminated by Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-finals in April 2024. Advertisement 'You start to feel many things in your body and you don't know why or how,' Morata says in the documentary. 'Your legs hurt. Your chest closes up. You can't breathe. I was afraid of going to sleep and not waking up. I was afraid of everything.' Morata, now 32 and with AC Milan, says that after missing a one-on-one with Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel early in the second leg in Germany, he could not concentrate on the game as he kept replaying the incident in his head. 'I was not able to follow the ball,' he says. 'We were not losing the game, or knocked out yet, but in your head you had blown the chance to reach a Champions League final with Atletico. When the game was over, I stayed a long time alone in the dressing room. I just wanted to cry. From there, it all began.' Made by FJX Media and City Studios, and premiering on Spanish TV channel Movistar Plus+ on June 17, the documentary features interviews with Morata's wife, Alice Campello, his parents, close friends and mental coach Adria Carmona. Morata says in the documentary that during his difficult period playing for Chelsea from 2017 to 2019 he 'had a very bad time'. The issues then continued when the former Real Madrid youth teamer joined Atletico, and came to a head after the Dortmund game last year. 'I had many horrible, self-destructive thoughts,' Morata says. 'It passed through my head to fake an injury, so I would not have to go (to the Euros).' Morata called Spain team doctor Oscar Celada to say he could not go to the tournament. Celada organised for Morata to speak with former Spain player Andres Iniesta, who suffered depression during his career following the death of Dani Jarque, a close friend and former team-mate, in August 2009. Iniesta helped Morata realise that making a positive contribution for Spain at the Euros could help him deal with his problems. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente also says in the documentary that he told Morata 'the team needed him', in order to give the player something to aim for. National team-mates including Rodri, Dani Olmo, Nico Williams, Mikel Oyarzabal and Alex Remiro are also interviewed. Morata says that playing golf with Oyarzabal and Remiro during the tournament was 'my therapy'. Between games at the Euros, Morata also had appointments with his psychiatrist, Pilar de Castro-Manglano, some of which are shown in the film. '(Alvaro) is now in a process of repair,' De Castro-Manglano says. 'It's like a ligament had broken, and you have to learn to walk again. To be able to deal with the difficulties of life in a healthy way. Learning to manage life is difficult, even more in elite people who live in the public eye.' Advertisement The documentary shows Morata scoring in Spain's 3-0 opening win over Croatia — his only goal of the tournament. The forward was criticised for his displays by some Spanish pundits and supporters — as he has often been through his long international career, including being whistled while playing games on home soil during Euro 2020 (played in 2021 due to the Covid pandemic). 'Is it worth playing for Spain if everywhere I go with my family, there are unpleasant incidents, with people insulting you and mocking you?' an emotional Morata says in the documentary. 'If you go to stadiums, wearing the Spain jersey, and fans whistle you and abuse you. It's not worth it. I know there are many Spain fans who support me, but also many others who don't want me here. But I think if I retire from international football, they will win.' The film had cameras in Spain's dressing room before and after all their Euro 2024 games, including their 2-1 victory over England in the final. 'That was the happiest moment I have felt in my career,' says Morata of the celebrations after Oyarzabal's late winning goal. Morata also says in the doc that his decision to leave Atletico Madrid and sign for AC Milan in summer 2024 was specifically to avoid a repeat of the abuse he had suffered after the Dortmund game. 'I could not risk another depression,' he says. 'I wanted to win trophies with Atletico Madrid, but it was not worth the possibility of going through another bad time. It's not nice for me to say it, but it was the easiest decision to make.' The 90-minute film also shows how Morata separated from Campello after last summer's tournament, before getting back together a few months later. The player, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Turkish club Galatasaray, has remained with the Spain team. He was a back-up to Oyarzabal in the recent Nations League final, coming off the bench against Portugal and missing the key kick in the decisive penalty shootout.
Daily Mirror
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Alvaro Morata set to retire after crucial penalty miss - 'I felt like crying'
Spain were beaten by Portugal in the Nations League final on Sunday evening with ex-Chelsea star Alvaro Morata missing the decisive penalty for his side before Ruben Neves won the game Alvaro Morata has admitted he is considering Spain retirement after missing the crucial penalty in the Nations League final. The Euro 2024 champions took on Portugal in Munich on Sunday evening and battled to a thrilling 2-2 draw. Arsenal target Martin Zubimendi opened the scoring for Spain before Nuno Mendes replied with an excellent effort. Mikel Oyarzabal put Spain ahead once again ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo 's equaliser. Penalties came and went with Morata seeing his effort saved by Portugal star Diogo Costa, with Ruben Neves winning the trophy with his successful effort. Speaking after his miss, Morata has admitted he could consider stepping back from the international stage. He said: "I feel sorry for my teammates, but that's part of life. I thank the coach for his words. The penalty? I took it badly, I could have done better, but there's nothing I can do about it. 'I'm leaving angry. I wanted to cry, even though I didn't. My children were in the stands, and in life, you have to learn." On retirement, the ex-Chelsea man said: "I'm only thinking about what happened today, but it's possible I won't be back in September." Morata, 32, has accumulated 86 appearances for Spain since his international debut in 2014 and has gone on to score 37 goals - the fourth-highest in the nation's history behind just Fernando Torres, Raul and David Villa. While Spain boss Luis De La Fuente recognised Morata's error, he refused to blame the striker. He said: "All the penalty takers were at an excellent level, and if Morata made a mistake, it was because he dared to. Morata is a champion and a role model for us. I'm really sorry he made that mistake, but I'm responsible for it because I asked him to." Who was man-of-the-match between Portugal and Spain? Share your thoughts in the comments below Morata now faces a major decision over his club future, as well as his international commitments. The ex- Chelsea and Atletico Madrid man spent the second half of last season on loan at Turkish giants Galatasaray, with that deal set to expire in January 2026. He scored seven goals across 16 outings in all competitions, helping the side win the league with an eye-watering 95 points That move followed a disappointing six-month spell with Italian giants AC Milan as he netted just six times in 25 appearances. Morata had only signed for Milan last summer from Atletico Madrid. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
