Alvaro Morata: From Atletico Madrid ball boy to January signing? The Chelsea striker’s career could soon come full circle
Atltico Madrid is a club that evokes bittersweet memories for lvaro Morata.On one hand, its the place where his path towards becoming a professional footballer started to take shape. On the other, its somewhere he ultimately felt badly treated and compelled to leave.
6Alvaro Morata could leave Chelsea this monthMixed memories will no doubt have been running through the strikers mind these past few days as he is offered as a loan option to the Colchoneros in an effort to find minutes and form.Moratas dream of making it as a senior with Atleti was abandoned by choice more than a decade ago, yet ironically enough, the red and white shirt now offers him his best possible chance of salvation.The strikers story starts in the Atltico academy where he was first moulded as a player, and spent nights at the Vicente Caldern as a ball boy.There is even a photograph of a tiny Morata begging then Espanyol keeper Carlos Kameni for his gloves at the end of a visit from the Catalan side to Atletis ground in the early 2000s.
6Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone.It was there he forged a relationship with a talented young midfielder called Jorge Resurreccin, who later became an Atleti icon under a nickname Koke.Their friendship persists to this day, but unlike Koke, by the time his teens drew near Morata was no longer enjoying life at Atltico, frustrated not to be playing. I stopped enjoying it, I wasnt playing a lot, and I didnt have a good relationship with team-mates, with the exception of Koke and one other, the Chelsea man explained on Spanish TV years later.
6Morata challenges his friend Koke in the 2014 Champions League final.At the age of 12 he made the tough call of leaving Atleti behind. Fortunately, after a brief spell at Getafe the forward showed so much promise Real Madrid decided to pick him up. Mirroring the path taken by Ral 15 years earlier, Atletis loss proved to be Madrids gain: Morata steamrolled his way through the Real ranks and made his first team debut by the time he was 18.The few seasons that followed were a whirlwind of achievements and benchmarks: his first goals as a Madrid senior, first starting spot against FC Barcelona, and impressing on the international stage as top scorer in Spains 2013 UEFA Under-21 Championship win all suggested Morata was the real deal.He would then push on to establish himself as a top flight striker with both Juventus then Madrid again, and though there wasnt always a regular starting spot, maintained a solid goals-per-minute ratio.
6Morata celebrates scoring for Juventus.Moratas move to Chelsea in 2017, where he would be the first choice striker following the departure of Diego Costa, was supposed to offer him the chance to unleash all of that untapped promise. Six goals in his first six Premier League appearances had everyone who has followed his development excited, but then through injury, a lack of confidence and who knows what else, the wheels fell off.Now, with Maurizio Sarri not even granting him a place on the bench, it is clear there is no way back for the 26-year-old at Stamford Bridge. The best thing for him now would be to find a club and coach that truly wants him, and can provide the confidence strikers live on. Enter Atleti. Enter Cholo.Diego Simeone, a coach who knows how to fire a player up better than most, has long been an admirer.Morata was one of his ideal choices to replace Diego Costa before the veteran returned to Spain. He even brazenly told the Spaniard come with me to Atltico as he walked past him on the sidelines during a 2017 Madrid derby at the Santiago Bernabu.
6Morata celebrates scoring against Atletico at the Wanda Metropolitano.It didnt happen then, but with Costa injured, Atleti struggling to find another suitable partner for Antoine Griezmann, and Morata determined to play regularly again, it may just finally happen now.In a purely football sense the move would make perfect sense for all parties: Simeone would get a player he wants, who can provide the combination of movement, link-up play and ability to hold up the ball that none of his number nines other than Costa offer. Considering Costas poor form this season, it could even be an upgrade.
6Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has made his mind up on MorataFor the hungry Morata, it would be a chance to right a wrong from his past at the same time as proving his worth in the present, at a club still in the La Liga title race and desperate to play the Champions League final held at their ground.A chance to reunite with his old mate Koke, who said last week he is a brilliant footballer who would be a welcome addition. Atleti is the strikers preferred destination, the Metropolitano already a ground that has proven lucky for him. Last year Morata noted that he would one day tell his kids he was the guy to score the first ever away goal at the stadium, and not because of my Real Madrid past. If it wasnt such a financially complicated operation for the La Liga side, the deal would likely be sealed already.Atleti are close to hitting their salary limit for this season, and certainly cant afford to pay Moratas wages: they have to offload players before bringing him in.A skilled hand from the Colchoneros and patience from Morata and his agent will be needed to make it a reality therefore. Considering Moratas agent is double-winning Atleti legend Juanma Lpez, that patience may just be there.
Arsenal must compete with Crystal Palace, Sevilla and Valladolid if they are to sign Roma striker Patrik Schick. The Gunners are considering a bid for the 22-year-old in January after Danny Welbeck suffered a serious injury against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League.
LIVE Schick News | One News Page
John Ford Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has invited former team-mate Paul Scholes to come into Manchester United for a chat following his abrupt exit from Oldham. Just 31 days after taking up his first
Paul Scholes invited for Manchester United visit after
Jose Mourinho's 4-man Real Madrid transfer list included Liverpool and Man Utd stars. Mourinho was a contender to return to the Bernabeu before Zinedine Zidane was re-appointed
Football gossip: Cancelo, Neymar, Draxler, De Ligt, Tielemans
Jan 13, 2019 · The former Leeds striker Phil Masinga has died at the age of 49, the club have announced. The South African played in the Premier League for the Yorkshire club for two years after joining from
Former Leeds United striker Phil Masinga dies, aged 49
The north London derby threatened to boil over as a mass brawl between Arsenal and Tottenham broke out following Eric Dier's equaliser. In a fiery encounter, a second-half blitz from the Gunners saw them claim a memorable 4-2 victory over their neighbours.
Arsenal vs Tottenham RESULT: North London derby
It was a mixed season for Chelsea, to say the very least. The Blues responded to heavy defeats at Bournemouth and Manchester City to seal a top three finish in the Premier League - thus confirming
Jim Ratcliffe: 5 Things to Know About Billionaire Linked With
PAPER TALK Transfer news and football gossip: Paul Pogba told to leave Man United, Liverpool duo set for exit, Tottenham striker to join Leeds?
Transfer news and football gossip: Pogba 'wants to leave' Man
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand backs Liverpool to beat Bayern Munich in Champions League last-16 second leg The former England star is "confident" the Reds will progress to the quarter
Ex-Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand backs Liverpool to
The Premier League's six biggest clubs will travel more than 80,000 miles between them on their pre-season tours this summer. Pre-season friendlies were once just a way of getting squads match fit and ready for the new campaign. Often they just involved local clubs, maybe a jaunt into sunny Europe and were followed by a handful of die-hard fans.
Premier League's Best Fans: Ranking the Supporters of Each
The Copa Libertadores final between River Plate and Boca Juniors, originally planned for Nov. 24, has been postponed for a second time following Saturday's crowd trouble.. River's second leg
Boca-River Libertadores Final Postponed Again After Attack
Greek farmers, police clash during tax hikes protest Babysitter, 22, who admitted killing two-month-old child by shaking him when he became 'fussy' faces 18 years in prison Germany to send 130
Wigan Athletic vs Southampton LIVE score - FA Cup quarter
Nottingham Forest are delighted to confirm the appointment of Martin O'Neill as the club's new manager. The Northern Irishman enjoyed a hugely successful playing career which included 371 appearances and 62 goals during a 10-year-spell at The City Ground, a time in which he helped The Reds to
Buy Martin O'neill at Amazon | Martin O'neill, Low Prices
AD
Chelsea: 'Easy peasy lemon squeezy' - Blues fans react after drawing Slavia Prague in Europa League The winner of the quarter-final will progress to face either Eintracht Frankfurt or
Chelsea: 'Easy peasy lemon squeezy' - Blues fans react after
No comments:
Post a Comment