Alvaro Morata, the former Spain captain, has opened up about his conversation with manager Luis de la Fuente regarding his exclusion from the World Cup squad, admitting he understood the decision.
Despite being a vital player in Spain's Euro 2024 victory and a consistent starter, Morata has seen his national team involvement dwindle over the past 18 months due to fluctuating club form with AC Milan, Galatasaray, and Como. His absence from the World Cup squad, along with Dani Carvajal, was noted but not entirely unexpected by the public.
Speaking to Diario AS, Morata revealed his mature response to de la Fuente's call. "Mister, obviously I knew. I'm not stupid," he stated. "A couple of years ago, I would have been devastated, but now I understand that this is how it is. That I didn’t deserve to be in the World Cup squad." He acknowledged it was likely his last chance at a World Cup and that Spain has a strong chance of winning, but accepted, "That's life; it's not a bed of roses."
Morata expressed his continued support for the team, saying, "Obviously, I’d like to go. I’ll be cheering them on." He reflected on his national team journey, mentioning his disappointment at narrowly missing Fernando Torres's goal record and emphasizing that national team selection should reward strong club performances. "I have to start enjoying myself again; hopefully, one day I can return to the national team," he added.
The conversation also touched upon Jose Mourinho, who recently returned to Real Madrid. Morata, who debuted under Mourinho, praised the manager's personality and coaching abilities. "He’s a phenomenon. Nobody can imagine how funny he is in person, up close," Morata commented. "He has a fantastic balance between being an incredible motivator and a great team manager. Wherever he’s been, he’s always won or come close. And at Real Madrid, where they always need to win, I think he’s going to do very well."
