Diego Simeone breaks silence on Alvaro Morata’s future after Man Utd transfer links
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has pleaded for Alvaro Morata to stay at the club following interest from Manchester United.
United are desperately looking for transfer options after a dismal start to the Premier League season, which has left them bottom of the table after two matches. Atletico’s squad has been targeted, with both Morata and Matheus Cunha on their radar as the summer window draws to a close.
Morata has found it hard to settle at one club throughout the course of his career, moving six times within his 12 seasons spent as a professional. But after scoring a brace for Atletico in their first La Liga game of the season, Simeone has hailed his conduct, and is hoping that the Spaniard stays put.
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The 29-year-old returned to Madrid this summer after spending two years on loan at Juventus, and his outing against Getafe was his first in Atletico colours as a permanent member of the squad. Morata previously scored 18 goals in 49 appearances as a loan star after leaving Chelsea.
Morata’s record back in England was mixed, with the Spaniard scoring 16 goals in 47 games for the Blues. Morata won the FA Cup and the Europa League during his time at Chelsea, and is now linked with an unlikely return to the Premier League.
But Simeone wants Morata to stay, and was full of praise for the striker after Atletico beat Getafe 3-0 in their La Liga opener. “I am not the owner of the club, I am the coach,” Simeone said after the full-time whistle.
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“Everyone at the club hopes he continues. He is working very well, in an extraordinary way. I think that all footballers need to have confidence to do important things. He came back with great humility and wanting to work. He came back trying hard.”
United are still yet to resolve their situation with Cristiano Ronaldo, with the 37-year-old still pushing for an exit, and with Anthony Martial currently side-lined their options in attack are limited. Morata was initially linked with United in 2017 before eventually joining Chelsea, with Romelu Lukaku joining the Red Devils instead.
Erik ten Hag is desperate for more options, and Morata could help ease the pressure as United are yet to score a goal of their own making so far this season. But with the backing of Simeone, Morata is likely to snub a move as he enters the pinnacle of his career, and his season has got off to a great start back in Madrid.
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