Álvaro Morata (Part 1)

Álvaro Borja Morata Martín, born on October 23, 1992, is a Spanish professional footballer renowned for his role as a striker. He currently plies his trade for La Liga club Atlético Madrid and also captains the Spain national team.
Morata's journey in professional football commenced at La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid, where he made his senior team debut in late 2010. Following his contribution to Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League triumph in the 2013–14 season, Morata made a move to Serie A side Juventus in 2014 for a transfer fee of €20 million. During his tenure with Juventus, Morata achieved remarkable success, clinching domestic league titles and the Coppa Italia in consecutive seasons.


Despite his fruitful spell in Italy, Morata was reacquired by Real Madrid for €30 million. With his return to the Spanish capital, Morata played a pivotal role in securing a La Liga title and another UEFA Champions League triumph in the 2016–17 season. However, he later transferred to Premier League outfit Chelsea in 2017, setting a club record with a transfer fee estimated at around £60 million.
In January 2019, Morata opted to return to Spain, joining Atlético Madrid on loan. He eventually made the move permanent on July 1, 2020. Morata also enjoyed a loan stint back at Juventus from 2020 to 2022, during which he contributed to winning the Supercoppa Italiana before resuming his tenure at Atlético Madrid.


Morata's international career is equally illustrious. He represented Spain at various youth levels, notably contributing to the country's victory in the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Morata made his senior debut for Spain in 2014 and has since been a prominent figure, featuring in prestigious tournaments such as UEFA Euro 2016, UEFA Euro 2020, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Álvaro Morata's journey in professional football began when he signed for Real Madrid in 2008, making the switch from neighbouring Getafe after initially starting out at Atlético Madrid. He showcased his talent at various levels within the Real Madrid setup, including the Real Madrid C team, while still in his junior years.


Morata's impressive performances for the Juvenil A team earned him a promotion to Real Madrid Castilla, the club's reserve team. He continued to impress with his goal-scoring prowess, making his debut for Castilla in a friendly match and subsequently in Segunda División B matches.
Morata's first-team debut for Real Madrid came on 12 December 2010, when he was brought on as a substitute in a La Liga match against Real Zaragoza. Despite showing promise, he continued to primarily feature for Castilla, with then-manager José Mourinho expressing the need for Morata to further develop with the reserve team.


During his time with Castilla, Morata showcased his goal-scoring ability, including netting a hat-trick in a match against Deportivo Fabril. He finished his debut season as a senior player with 14 league goals, emerging as one of Castilla's top scorers.
Morata's breakthrough with Real Madrid's first team came in subsequent seasons, with notable moments such as scoring his first competitive goal for the first team against Levante and making significant contributions in important matches, including El Clásico against Barcelona. He continued to impress in the UEFA Champions League, scoring crucial goals, including one against Schalke 04 in the round of 16. Morata played a role in Real Madrid's success in the UEFA Champions League, contributing to their victory in the final against Atlético Madrid.


Overall, Morata's time at Real Madrid saw him progress from the youth ranks to becoming a significant contributor to the first-team squad, showcasing his talent and potential on the grand stage of European football.
After joining Juventus in July 2014, Álvaro Morata quickly made his mark with the Italian club. He debuted in Serie A in September, showcasing his talent with a goal in a match against Atalanta. Morata's contributions continued as he scored crucial goals, including a brace against Parma and an important winner in the Coppa Italia fixture against Parma.


In the UEFA Champions League, Morata proved to be a valuable asset for Juventus. He scored decisive goals in both legs of the round of 16 tie against Borussia Dortmund, helping his team advance to the next round. Morata's success in Europe continued as he found the net against his former club, Real Madrid, in both legs of the semi-final, demonstrating his composure and skill on the big stage.
Despite his contributions, Morata also faced challenges, including disciplinary issues that saw him sent off in matches against Roma and Fiorentina. However, he bounced back from setbacks and continued to deliver for Juventus.


In the 2015 Coppa Italia final against A.C. Milan, Morata once again proved his worth with a crucial goal in extra time, securing the trophy for Juventus. His performances throughout the season earned him recognition, including a nomination for the UEFA Team of the Year.
Morata's impact extended beyond his goal-scoring prowess, as he signed a contract extension with Juventus in December 2015, committing his future to the club. His contributions on the field played a significant role in Juventus's success in both domestic and European competitions during his time with the club.


Upon returning to Real Madrid in June 2016, Álvaro Morata quickly made an impact with his performances on the pitch. He marked his competitive return with the club by starting in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Sevilla in the 2016 UEFA Super Cup. Morata showcased his goal-scoring abilities by finding the back of the net for the first time in a league match against Celta Vigo later in August.
Throughout the 2016-2017 season, Morata demonstrated his scoring prowess despite often playing as a backup to Karim Benzema. One of his standout performances came on April 5, 2017, against Leganés, where he scored a hat-trick in a crucial 4-2 away win, helping Real Madrid maintain their lead in the La Liga title race. Despite his role as a substitute, Morata finished the season with an impressive tally of 15 league goals, contributing significantly to Real Madrid's league triumph, their first in five years.


Morata's impact extended to the UEFA Champions League, where he scored three goals in nine appearances. His contributions were instrumental as Real Madrid secured their second consecutive Champions League title, solidifying their status as one of Europe's elite clubs.
Throughout the season, Morata's performances highlighted his versatility and effectiveness in front of goal, earning him praise from teammates and fans alike. Despite facing competition for playing time, Morata's determination and ability to make an impact were evident, further establishing him as a key player for Real Madrid during his second spell at the club.

References

1.  "Acta del Partido celebrado el 12 de mayo de 2019, en Madrid" [Minutes of the Match held on 12 May 2019, in Madrid] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
2. ^ "Álvaro Morata: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
3. ^ "Álvaro Morata". Atlético Madrid. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
4. ^ "El traspaso de Morata deja dinero al Atlético y al Getafe" [Morata's transfer brings money to Atlético and Getafe]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Madrid. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
5. ^ "El esfuerzo del Atlético y Morata por demostrar su pedigrí rojiblanco" [Atlético and Morata's effort to show his red-and-white pedigree]. El Confidencial (in Spanish). 29 January 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
6. ^ "Un año inolvidable para Morata" [An unforgettable year for Morata] (in Spanish). Real Madrid CF. 7 December 2009. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
7. ^ Cerezo, Hugo (26 June 2010). "Una generación para la historia" [A generation to make history]. Marca (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
8. ^ "At the gates of the first team". Real Madrid CF. 30 July 2010. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
9. ^ "El Alcorcón cae ante un buen Real Madrid Castilla" [Alcorcón fall to good Real Madrid Castilla]. Marca (in Spanish). Madrid. 15 August 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
10. ^ "3–2 Primeros tres puntos para el Castilla" [3–2: First three points for Castilla] (in Spanish). Real Madrid CF. 29 August 2010. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
11. ^ "Morata salvó un punto para el filial blanco en el último suspiro del choque" [Morata rescued one point for the white reserves as clash drew to a close]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Barcelona. 1 November 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2017.