Alvaro Morata admits Chelsea exit was in his thoughts
Alvaro Morata has broken his silence over his future and admitted he considered leaving Chelsea this summer.
The striker started his Blues career brightly last summer after arriving from Real Madrid. He scored six goals in his first seven Premier League games, including a hat-trick against Stoke, but he then picked up a hamstring injury, then a back problem, was dropped and only scored once in 2018.
And the 25-year-old, who was linked with a move away from Chelsea in the summer, has admitted he contemplated moving to Spain or Italy before the transfer window closed.
“Last year I wasn’t happy. I started well but at the end it was a disaster,” said Morata.
“I went out to the pitch and did even not know where I was. I considered returning to Spain or Italy. But you can’t always escape reality, I left Spain to earn a place at the World Cup and I did not go.
“It was hard. I’m going to do everything I can to go to the next one, it was a difficult time because I expected to go.
“I didn’t have the best season. The boss took a decision. I don’t resent [Julen] Lopetegui, I wish him all the best at Real Madrid.”
Morata, who was left out of Julen Lopetegui’s selected Spain squad for the World Cup, has though denied there was a chance to return to Real Madrid.
“There was never an option to return to Real Madrid this summer,” the striker added.
New Spain head coach Luis Enrique has recalled the Chelsea man for the Nations League clashes with England and Croatia, and Morata says he was nervous about returning
“I feel like it’s the first time, I was nervous yesterday, I arrived an hour and a half early,” added Morata.
“Luis Enrique tells us that he wants Spain to win again and that everyone knows who Spain are.
“There are times when I stopped appreciating coming here. You do not think about every match you play with the Spanish national team until you have to watch the matches from home.”
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