Álvaro Morata, Atlético de Madrid striker, "did not want to think about the possibility" of returning to Chelsea or of moving to the Atletico club, which "always" has sought to "come" in the past, which arrived in January and in which it will continue beyond the next course, when it will conclude a transfer that will then be transformed into a transfer.
"The Atleti is the best thing that could have happened to me," summarizes the attacker in an interview with EFE at the Los Angeles rally in San Rafael, in the Sierra Segovia, where his team is preparing the new season, in which "you should aspire to everything ", according to the attacker, who" dreams "and with conquering rojiblanco titles.
"It would mean a lot more for me to win important things with Atleti than all the ones I've won in the past, because it's different, it's enjoyed differently." It says one footballer who has won everything: two Champions League, two Club World Cups, two Leagues, two Copas del Rey and a European Super Cup and one from Spain, with Real Madrid; an English Cup, with Chelsea; and two Leagues and two Italian Cups, with Juventus.
Q: How do you approach this start of the season?
A: "With a lot of motivation and with a lot of hope. It is a year that there are many changes in the team, but we also really want to start. We are working very hard to arrive in the best possible way and, if we work all year long as we are doing these first days, it is sure to be a great year for us. "
Morata faces the preseason with a certainty: his continuity in Atlético. On July 6 the agreement between the rojiblanco team and Chelsea was confirmed so that the '9', which had claimed his return this summer the London club, continue this exercise as a loan on the team of Diego Simeone and culminate his definitive transfer to Atlético at the beginning of the 2020-21 campaign.
Q: How do you rate the agreement for its continuity in Atlético?
A: "I am very happy about this. The truth that I did not even want to think about the possibility of returning. And I am very grateful to the club for all the effort it has made, to the 'staff' and to my teammates, which I know that many of them have also pressed for me to stay here. It was not an easy operation and especially with Chelsea, which is not easy to negotiate too, so I appreciate everything that all the parts of the club have done. And now it's up to me to give back all this confidence that has been given to me and all the responsibility that I have this year. "
Q: What has Atlético meant in your career?
A: "It's the best thing that could have happened to me. I've said it many times and it's not because it looks good. I think last year I also arrived mid-year, it is not easy to adapt and many things maybe I did not understand them well from the game. There is a process of adaptation that did not cost me much thanks to my colleagues and everyone, but now the best is about to begin. I had already told Juanma many times (Lopez, his representative, also former Atlético player, with whom he won the 'doublet' in 1995-96) that I wanted to come to Atleti. In fact, several times I was ready and in the end it happened under these circumstances. That is, it is not like many people say that 'thank goodness that Atleti appeared'. I have always wanted to come here, to come and play here and in the end, destiny has brought me here at this moment. There is no need to go around anymore and I already dream of winning things with Atleti ".
Q: Have you found in Atlético what you were looking for in your career: the confidence of the coach and an ambitious team that competes for everything?
R: "Yes. Above all, I feel very identified by the philosophy of Atleti, not only in football, but in everything. In the end, it's different. Many times when I try to explain it there are people who do not understand it. It would mean a lot more for me to win important things with Atleti than all the ones I've won in the past, because it's different. It is enjoyed in another way. "
The new season is already in sight. A new or 'second' was Simeone for the feeling of end of cycle last year, with the departure of Diego Godín, Juan Torres Torres, Lucas Hernández, Antoine Griezmann and Rodrigo Hernández, in addition to the foreseeable march of Filipe Luis, who has already finished contract but still has a pending conversation with the board to talk about the future.
Q: What should Atlético aspire for this season?
A: "I think the Atleti must aspire to everything. For that we are, for that the club has made an effort too, with the losses that we have had, reinforcing very well. Watching these days train new players who have come seems to have adapted very quickly too, thanks to the teammates. They themselves feel that they are comfortable in the group. We just need to understand each other in the field with them and make a great group, which I think is the strength of our team. Before being a team, we are a family. And it's about building it as quickly as possible to be able to fight for all the titles. "