IT WAS VERY EASY TO SNUB BARCELONA AND BAYERN MUNICH - MORATA BRAGS

Alvaro Morata insists it was ‘very easy’ to reject the advances of both Barcelona and Bayern Munich in order to complete a move to Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea have agreed to loan Morata to Atleti until the end of the 2019/20 season after a difficult one-and-a-half year spell for the 26-year-old striker at Stamford Bridge.

Morata had only managed five league goals under Maurizio Sarri this term and Gonzalo Higuain has been brought in on a temporary deal to replace the forward.

The Spaniard came through Atletico’s academy before joining Real Madrid as a youngster in 2008 and has turned down Barca and Bayern to return to his former club.


Asked why he rejected Barca and Bayern at his unveiling, Morata replied: ‘It was very easy, everything stopped when my agent told me this possibility.

‘Here I am now, which is the most important.’

Morata will be teaming up with another former Chelsea man, Diego Costa, and he is looking forward to playing alongside his compatriot.

‘Diego is long-time teammate with Spain, great player and a good friend,’ he said.

‘I have spoken with him when I have had difficult moments, him too.

‘Why can we not play together? I am looking forward to seeing him at training, for sure he will have some jokes.’