Atletico Madrid and Spain striker Alvaro Morata hints that he might retire from international football after Euro 2024, citing a lack of “respect” as his reason.
Spain striker Alvaro Morata has admitted that he could retire from international football following the end of Euro 2024 and slammed the lack of “respect” shown by those in his homeland.
The 31-year-old has led the Roja line at this summer’s tournament as Luis de la Fuente‘s first-choice striker and scored in their opening match, a 3-0 triumph over Croatia in Group B.
However, Morata has failed to find the back of the net in four matches since, and his thunder has been stolen by the effervescent wide pairing of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.
The Atletico Madrid attacker is yet to complete the full 90 minutes in a Euro 2024 game, and there were brief fears that he would be suspended for Tuesday’s semi-final against France after he was reported to have been booked in the quarter-final win over Germany.
Morata is available for the showdown with Les Bleus, though, as UEFA confirmed that the attacker did not pick up his second booking of the tournament against the hosts, meaning that he is expected to lead the line in Munich.
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Morata: ‘There is no respect for anything in Spain’
The former Chelsea, Juventus and Real Madrid striker currently serves as the vice-captain of his nation behind Jesus Navas, and with 36 goals in 78 matches, he sits fourth in the men’s all-time scoring list.
Only Fernando Torres (38), Raul (44) and David Villa (59) have found the back of the net more times for La Roja than Morata, who is therefore the highest active scorer in the 2010 World Cup winners’ ranks.
However, in an interview with El Mundo ahead of Tuesday’s semi-final, Morata confessed that he will “likely” hang up his international boots when Euro 2024 is finished, saying: “It may be, it’s a possibility that I don’t want to talk about too much, but it’s likely.”
The 31-year-old also admitted that he feels happier when playing outside of Spain, claiming that he does not feel respected when he plays in his homeland and citing an incident after his apparent booking in the Germany match.
Asked if he enjoys working outside of his homeland, Morata replied: “Yes, definitely. I have said it many times. Above all, because people respect me. In Spain there is no respect for anything or anyone.
![Spain's Alvaro Morata celebrates after Riccardo Calafiori's own goal on June 20, 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/25/alvaro-morata_1.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Spain's Alvaro Morata celebrates after Riccardo Calafiori's own goal on June 20, 2024 [IMAGO]")
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Morata: ‘I would cut my hand off to win the Euros’
“When I go with my family, everyone loves me, everyone treats me well. But when I go with a team, with football, it’s totally different. Look, the other day, they said I was crying because I had been shown a yellow card. What nonsense is that!
“I was crying because my country, with me as captain, had reached the semi-finals. I could never criticise a person who is there crying about that. Well, they criticise me, when I would cut off my hand to win the Euros.
“I’m trying to enjoy this tournament, which could be my last matches with the national team, and the future, whatever it has to be, will be. Maybe one day they’ll even miss me. Every day the moment of leaving is getting closer, that’s why I enjoy it, that’s why I cry, that’s why I’ll cry with whatever comes next, for better or worse.”
Morata will spearhead a slightly rejigged Spain team at the Allianz Arena, as both Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand are suspended on account of a totting-up of yellow cards, while Pedri is out with the knee injury he suffered in the quarter-final.