Alvaro Morata may be looking settled under Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea this season, but after a disastrous 2017/18 campaign, the Spaniard has admitted that he was considering a move back to Spain or Italy.
“Last year I was not happy, everything was a disaster,” the lanky forward told a press conference on Tuesday.
Antonio Conte, who had managed the striker at Juventus, convinced the Blues to green light a £60 million move for the Spaniard and while Morata made a fast start, things quickly started to fall apart for both manager and player.
The 6’2 striker managed to find the back of the net just 15 times in all competitions over the course of a season that was disrupted by a series of niggling injuries and ended the campaign as the second-choice striker behind January arrival Olivier Giroud.
Media outlets had already labelled the expensive acquisition as a flop and speculation was rife that a move back to the Serie A or the La Liga was on the cards.
Conte got the sack after an underwhelming second season, in which the club finished outside of the UEFA Champions League spots even though they did manage to lift the FA Cup.
His patchy club form led to him being dropped by Julen Lopetegui and Morata admitted it was hard seeing his compatriots board the plane to Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
“It was a hard time for me, but it’s not worth thinking about the past.I will do everything possible to go to the next World Cup. When you watch it in the summer on TV, it is your biggest dream and I had a very bad time, as it was a very difficult moment.”
Lopetegui was sensationally sacked by the Spanish federation on the eve of the World Cup as the RFEF was miffed by Real Madrid’s decision to announce the tactician as Zinedine Zidane’s replacement right before the national team began their assault on the biggest prize in world football.
DON’T MISS | Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho reflects on Burnley win
Morata, however, admitted that he didn’t have a good enough season to warrant a selection as he added, “I don’t resent Julen Lopetegui, as it was his opinion. I didn’t have my best season. I wish him the best and even more now that he is at Real Madrid.”
The 25-year-old has been called up for the Spanish national squad by new manager Luis Enrique for La Roja’s ties against England (September 8) and Croatia (September 11).
Early days in the 2018/19 season, but Morata has managed to score just once in four Premier League games so far.