Álvaro Morata

Álvaro Morata

Morata training with Real Madrid in 2011
Personal information
Full name Álvaro Borja Morata Martín
Date of birth (1992-10-23) 23 October 1992
Place of birth Madrid, Spain
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Juventus
Number 9
Youth career
2005–2007 Atlético Madrid
2007–2008 Getafe
2008–2010 Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2010–2013 Real Madrid B 83 (45)
2010–2014 Real Madrid 37 (10)
2014– Juventus 62 (15)
National team‡
2009 Spain U17 6 (2)
2010 Spain U18 2 (3)
2010–2012 Spain U19 13 (11)
2013–2014 Spain U21 13 (13)
2014– Spain 8 (1)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 May 2016.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 27 March 2016
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Morata and the second or maternal family name is Martín.

Álvaro Borja Morata Martín (Spanish pronunciation: ['alβaɾo mo'ɾata]; born 23 October 1992) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Italian club Juventus F.C. and the Spain national team as a striker.

He began his career at Real Madrid, making his debut with the senior team in late 2010 and going on to appear in 52 official games (11 goals), notably winning the 2014 Champions League. He moved to Juventus for €20 million in 2014, winning the domestic double in his first season, followed by a second Serie A title the next year.

Morata gained 34 caps for Spain at youth level, helping the country win the 2013 Under-21 Championship. He made his senior international debut in 2014.

Club career

Real Madrid

Born in Madrid, Morata signed for Real Madrid in 2008 from neighbouring Getafe CF, finishing his formation two years later but starting appearing for Real Madrid C still as a junior.[2] In July 2010, after a successful season with the Juvenil A where he won two youth titles and scored 34 goals,[3] he was promoted to Real Madrid Castilla; later that month, first team coach José Mourinho took the player alongside four teammates to a preseason tour in the United States.[4]

Morata training with Real Madrid in 2010.

On 15 August 2010, Morata made his debut with Castilla in a friendly match with AD Alcorcón, scoring the only goal of the game.[5] His third division debut came on the 29th in a 3–2 win against Coruxo FC,[6] and he netted his first official goal in a 1–1 draw against RSD Alcalá, on 31 October.

On 12 December 2010, Morata made his debut for the first team when he was brought on as a substitute for Ángel Di María in the 88th minute of a 3–1 La Liga win at Real Zaragoza.[7] Ten days later, he made his debut in the Copa del Rey, also coming from the bench in the last minutes. In January 2011, after Gonzalo Higuaín's injury, Spanish media appointed him to be his replacement in the main squad. However, Mourinho discarded this option saying that "he's not prepared to be in the starting lineup of Real Madrid. He needs to grow up and finish his formation with Castilla";[8] in this period of time he scored five goals in four matches with the reserves,[9] while Emmanuel Adebayor was being signed to fit the missing striker in the first team.

On 13 February 2011, Morata scored the first hat-trick of his career, in a 7–1 victory against Deportivo de La Coruña B.[10] He finished his first season as a senior with 14 league goals – squad best alongside Joselu – but Castilla failed to gain promotion in the playoffs.

Morata celebrates with Castilla in 2013.

Morata scored his first official goal with Real's main squad on 11 November 2012, entering the field in the 83rd minute of an away fixture against Levante UD and netting the 2–1 winner after just 60 seconds.[11] In his first-ever official start, at home against Rayo Vallecano on 17 February of the following year, he scored the opener after just three minutes, but was removed from the pitch before the half-hour mark to make room for Raúl Albiol after Sergio Ramos was sent off (2–0 home success).[12]

On 2 March 2013, Morata played the full 90 minutes in El Clásico against FC Barcelona, providing the assist as Karim Benzema scored the opener in an eventual 2–1 home win. He also had a couple of chances to net himself during the match.[13]

In the 2013–14 season, Morata became a regular member of the first team squad under new coach Carlo Ancelotti. On 18 March 2014 he scored his first goal in the UEFA Champions League, closing the scoreline in a 3–1 win over FC Schalke 04 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium for the round-of-16.[14] On 17 May, in the last game of the league campaign, he netted two late goals against RCD Espanyol to help to a 3–1 home success and tally eight in the competition;[15] he also featured in the club's victory in the final of the Champions League against Atlético Madrid, playing the last ten minutes of regular time and extra time after replacing Benzema.[16]

Juventus

On 19 July 2014, Juventus F.C. announced that they had reached an agreement for the transfer of Morata, who signed a five-year deal for the fee of €20 million,[17][18] with Real Madrid having the option to buy him back in the future.[19] He made his debut in Serie A on 13 September, replacing Fernando Llorente for the final minute of a 2–0 home win against Udinese Calcio;[20] two weeks later he again came on in place of his fellow Spaniard, and headed his first goal for his new club as it won 3–0 at Atalanta B.C..[21]

Morata receiving an award before a match for Juventus.

On 5 October 2014, against A.S. Roma, Morata came on as a substitute and was sent off for a foul on Kostas Manolas, who himself received his marching orders for retaliating. Juve won the home fixture 3–2.[22] On 9 November he scored twice to help to a 7–0 home demolition of Parma FC, with Llorente – whom he replaced after 71 minutes – adding a further two to the scoreline;[23] he came on for the final ten minutes of the Supercoppa Italiana against S.S.C. Napoli in Doha, Qatar on 22 December, and scored in the penalty shootout in a 5–6 loss.[24]

On 28 January 2015, Morata played the last 13 minutes of the Coppa Italia fixture also against Parma, and scored the game's only goal at the Stadio Ennio Tardini to qualify his team to the semi-finals.[25] The following month, at home against Borussia Dortmund for the Champions League's round-of-16, he scored the 2–1 winner in the 43rd minute of the first leg;[26] he also started and found the net in the return match, helping to a 3–0 success at the Westfalenstadion.[27]

On 7 April 2015, Morata was sent off for a foul on Alessandro Diamanti as Juventus defeated ACF Fiorentina in the cup semi-finals, thus missing the final.[28] One week later, he won a penalty in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against AS Monaco FC, which was later converted by Arturo Vidal for an eventual 1–0 home success,[29] also the final aggregate score. In the first leg of the semi-finals, against his former club Real Madrid, he put the hosts ahead through a tap-in in the eighth minute, as the match ended with a 2–1 home victory,[30] and he repeated the feat in the return match, on both occasions not celebrating.[31] On 6 June, in the final against Barcelona in Berlin, he scored the equaliser early into the second half of a 1–3 loss.[32]

In early August 2015, Morata was ruled out for a month due to a soleus muscle tear in his left calf during training, and was sidelined for the 2015 Supercoppa Italiana.[33] In his second appearance since returning to action, on 15 September, he featured 85 minutes and netted the 2–1 winner at Manchester City for the Champions League group phase;[34] on 30 September, he scored to help defeat Sevilla FC 2–0 at the Juventus Stadium, his fifth in as many appearances in the latter competition to equal Alessandro Del Piero's record,[35] and on 24 November he was nominated for the UEFA Team of the Year.[36]

On 10 December 2015, Morata signed a contract extension that kept him at the club until 2020.[37] The following 20 March, in the Derby della Mole against neighbours Torino F.C., he came off the bench in the first half and scored twice in a 4–1 away victory.[38]

International career

Morata playing for Spain U19 in 2012

Morata was called by the Spanish under-17 team for the 2009 FIFA World Cup in Nigeria, playing four matches and scoring two goals for the third-placed side.[39] Subsequently he represented the under-19s at the Japan International Tournament,[40] helping to a second-place finish after the hosts.[41]

Morata was selected by Spain to the squad that appeared in the 2011 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Romania, helping the national team win the tournament with six goals, the highest in the competition.[42] He made his debut with the under-21s at the 2013 European Championships in Israel, being essential in the first two group games against Russia and Germany by netting the solitary goal in each contest, respectively in the 82nd and 86th minutes;[43][44] he closed out a perfect group stage for both team and player with his third, against the Netherlands (3–0)[45]– eventually he was crowned the competition's top scorer, and it also ended in conquest.[46]

On 7 November 2014, Morata was called up to full side manager Vicente del Bosque's squad for matches against Belarus and Germany.[47] He made his debut against the former on the 15th, replacing Isco for the last ten minutes of a 3–0 win in Huelva for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers;[48] in the same competition, on 27 March 2015, he scored his first senior international goal, the only in a victory over Ukraine in Seville.[49]

Style of play

Good in the air and at holding up the ball, with clinical finishing ability, quick feet and excellent movement, Morata drew comparisons to Real Madrid and Spain's Fernando Morientes due to his playing style.[50] During his first season at Juventus, he stood out for his pace, energy and work-rate on the pitch, while his technique, opportunism and positional sense saw him score several crucial goals.[51][52][53][54] A versatile and well-rounded forward, Morata is capable of playing as a main striker, linking up play between the lines, and can even play out wide on the wing.[55][56] He is also an accurate penalty taker.[55]

Personal life

In March 2014, Morata shaved off all of his hair in solidarity with sick children, saying "kids with cancer wanted to have my haircut but they couldn't, so I gave myself theirs".[57][58]

Career statistics

Club

As of 1 May 2016[59][60]
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Real Madrid Castilla 2010–11 2815——2815
2011–12 3718——3718
2012–13 1812——1812
Total 8345——8345
Real Madrid 2010–11 10100020
2011–12 10000010
2012–13 1222010152
2013–14 2386051349
Total 371090615211
Juventus 2014–15 298521254615
2015–16 33742824511
Total 6215942079126
Career totals 1827018426822682

International goals

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 27 March 2015 Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain  Ukraine
1–0
1–0
UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying[49]

Honours

Club

Real Madrid Castilla[59]
Real Madrid[59]
Juventus[59]

International

Spain U21[59]
Spain U19[59]
Spain U17

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Álvaro Morata". Juventus F.C. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  2. ↑ Un año inolvidable para Morata (An unforgettable year for Morata); Real Madrid, 7 December 2009 (Spanish)
  3. ↑ Una generación para la historia (A generation to make history); Marca, 26 June 2010 (Spanish)
  4. ↑ At the gates of the first team; Real Madrid, 30 July 2010
  5. ↑ El Alcorcón cae ante un buen Real Madrid Castilla (Alcorcón loses against a good Real Madrid Castilla); Marca, 15 August 2010 (Spanish)
  6. ↑ 3–2: Primeros tres puntos para el Castilla (3–2: First three points for Castilla); Real Madrid, 29 August 2010 (Spanish)
  7. ↑ Madrid claim Zaragoza triumph; ESPN Soccernet, 12 December 2010
  8. ↑ "No tengo esperanzas de que se fiche un delantero" ("I have no hopes about signing a new striker"); Diario AS, 15 January 2011 (Spanish)
  9. ↑ Especial Real Madrid: Estas son las joyas de La Fábrica que persigue la Premier (Real Madrid special: These are the jewels of "La Fábrica" chased by the Premier League); Goal.com, 5 February 2011 (Spanish)
  10. ↑ Morata hace un 'hat trick' en el 7–1 del Castilla (Morata does a hat trick in Castilla's 7–1); Marca, 13 February 2011 (Spanish)
  11. ↑ Morata earns Madrid the win; ESPN Soccernet, 11 November 2012
  12. ↑ Real claim derby spoils; ESPN FC, 17 February 2013
  13. ↑ Ramos heads late winner; ESPN FC, 2 March 2013
  14. ↑ "Cristiano Ronaldo double completes Real Madrid's thrashing of Schalke". The Guardian. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  15. ↑ "Real Madrid 3–1 Espanyol". BBC Sport. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "Real Madrid 4–1 Atlético Madrid". BBC Sport. 24 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  17. ↑ "Morata signs for Juventus". Juventus F.C. 19 July 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  18. ↑ "Agreement with Real Madrid for the definitive acquisition of the player Alvaro Morata" (PDF). Juventus F.C. 19 July 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  19. ↑ "Official announcement: Morata". Real Madrid. 19 July 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  20. ↑ "Juventus 2–0 Udinese: Tevez and Marchisio seal comfortable win". Goal.com. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  21. ↑ "Atalanta 0–3 Juventus". BBC Sport. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  22. ↑ Sheringham, Sam (5 October 2014). "Juventus 3–2 Roma". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  23. ↑ "Juventus put seven past Parma as Llorente, Tevez, Morata net braces". ESPN FC. 9 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  24. ↑ "Juventus 2–2 Napoli (5–6 on pens)". BBC Sport. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  25. ↑ "A la salud de Morata" [Raising a cup for Morata] (in Spanish). Marca. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  26. ↑ "First-half goals give Juve victory over Dortmund". UEFA.com. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  27. ↑ "Tévez leads Juventus to Dortmund stroll". UEFA.com. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  28. ↑ "Fiorentina 0–3 Juventus (agg. 2–4): Bianconeri brush Viola aside to reach Coppa Italia final". Goal.com. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  29. ↑ Jacopo Gerna (14 April 2015). "Juventus-Monaco 1–0: Vidal su rigore fa godere Allegri e lo Stadium" [Juventus-Monaco 1–0: Allegri and stadium rejoice through Vidal penalty] (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  30. ↑ "Tévez gives Juventus the edge against Real Madrid". UEFA.com. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  31. ↑ Neil Johnston (13 May 2015). "Juventus beat Real to reach final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  32. ↑ "Barcelona see off Juventus to claim fifth title". UEFA.com. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  33. ↑ "Morata ruled out for a month". Goal.com. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  34. ↑ "Morata earns Juventus victory at Manchester City". UEFA.com. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  35. ↑ "Morata on equalling Del Piero's Juventus record". UEFA.com. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  36. ↑ Paul Sumeet (24 November 2015). "Six Juventus stars nominated for UEFA Team of the Year". La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  37. ↑ "Official: Morata extends Juve deal". Football Italia. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  38. ↑ "Torino 1–4 Juventus: Alvaro Morata scores a brace as leaders win the Turin derby". Daily Mail. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  39. ↑ Álvaro Morata – FIFA competition record
  40. ↑ Convocatoria Torneo Internacional de Japón Sub-19 (Japan U19 International Tournament callup); Royal Spanish Football Federation, 7 August 2010 (Spanish)
  41. ↑ La Sub-19 gana y se adjudica el segundo puesto (U19 win and finish second); Royal Spanish Football Federation, 24 August 2010 (Spanish)
  42. ↑ Spain's Morata takes U19 scoring plaudits UEFA.com, 1 August 2011
  43. ↑ Morata late show gives Spain winning start; UEFA.com, 6 June 2013
  44. ↑ Morata sends Spain through as Germany crash out; UEFA.com, 9 June 2013
  45. ↑ Spain beat Netherlands to top Group B; UEFA.com, 12 June 2013
  46. ↑ Morata wins Golden Boot in Spanish clean sweep; UEFA.com, 18 June 2013
  47. ↑ "Chelsea’s Diego Costa left out of Spain squad to play Belarus and Germany". The Guardian. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  48. ↑ Hunter, Graham (15 November 2014). "Much-changed Spain dominate Belarus". UEFA.com. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  49. 1 2 Hunter, Graham (27 March 2015). "Morata ensures Spain beat Ukraine". UEFA.com. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  50. ↑ "Morata, el recogepelotas atlético que admiraba a Raúl" [Morata, the Atlético ball boy who admired Raúl] (in Spanish). El País. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  51. ↑ "The case for Morata". Football Italia. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  52. ↑ Craig Battle (3 June 2015). "Morata an unsung hero for Juventus this season". Sportsnet. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  53. ↑ "Triplete Barcellona: E' campione d'Europa. Peccato, Juve" [Barcelona treble: They're Champions of Europe. What a shame, Juve] (in Italian). Sky Sport. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  54. ↑ Luciano Danza (6 June 2015). "Buffon non molla mai, Morata una rete Real, Pogba e Tevez non lasciano il segno" [Buffon never gives up, Morata a "Real" goal, Pogba and Tevez don't leave their mark] (in Italian). Il Messaggero. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  55. 1 2 "Meet the history makers". Juventus.com. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  56. ↑ Anthony Lopopolo (15 November 2015). "Alvaro Morata denies contact with Real Madrid despite looming buy-back clause". The Score. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  57. ↑ "Álvaro Morata se corta el pelo por un fin solidario" [Álvaro Morata cuts his hair in the aim of solidarity] (in Spanish). Terra. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  58. ↑ "Álvaro Morata se rapa la cabeza por solidaridad con los niños enfermos de cáncer" [Álvaro Morata shaves his head in solidarity with children ill with cancer] (in Spanish). 20 Minutos. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  59. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Morata". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  60. ↑ "Álvaro Morata". Footballdatabase. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  61. ↑ "Morata, talent in abundance". Juventus F.C. 19 July 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  62. ↑ "Thiago leads all-star squad dominated by Spain". UEFA.com. 21 June 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  63. ↑ "UEFA Champions League squad of the season". UEFA.com. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.

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