Alvaro Morata has spoken candidly about the conversation he had with Spain manager Luis de la Fuente after being left out of the World Cup squad.
The former Spain captain was a central figure in the country’s Euro 2024 triumph, starting throughout the tournament and earning widespread praise from his teammates.
However, the veteran forward has struggled for consistent form over the past 18 months, turning out for AC Milan, Galatasaray and most recently Como.
By the time the World Cup squad was announced, few expected Morata to be included, though his absence was a source of some national disappointment.
His omission drew comparisons to that of Dani Carvajal, another key member of the Euro 2024 winning squad who also missed the tournament in the United States.
Speaking to Diario AS, Morata revealed the details of his phone call with De la Fuente, describing how he had already anticipated the news before it was delivered.
“Luis (De la Fuente) called me, and I told him, ‘Mister, obviously I knew. I’m not stupid. A couple of years ago, I would have been devastated, but now I understand that this is how it is.”
Morata went further, acknowledging that his form simply had not been good enough to justify a place in the squad for what would likely have been his final World Cup.
“Obviously, you know it’s your last chance to play in a World Cup, and you know Spain can definitely win it. But hey, that’s life; it’s not a bed of roses. And I know I’ve improved in terms of handling things with maturity and experience.”
Despite his disappointment, Morata expressed full support for the national team, while also reflecting on what the shirt has meant to him throughout his career.
“I’ll be cheering them on. I’ve had some really tough times with the national team, but at the same time, it’s what I love most about football.”
The 33-year-old also touched on falling just short of Fernando Torres’ scoring record for Spain, making clear that a return to the national setup remains a personal ambition.
“I’m sad to have missed out on Fernando (Torres) by just one goal. The national team is a reward for when you’re enjoying yourself and when you excel at your club. I have to start enjoying myself again; hopefully, one day I can return to the national team.”
Morata also used the interview to speak warmly about Jose Mourinho, under whom he made his senior debut at Real Madrid and who has since returned to the Santiago Bernabeu.
“He’s a phenomenon. Nobody can imagine how funny he is in person, up close. Every time I see him, I have a good laugh with him. He has a fantastic balance between being an incredible motivator and a great team manager.”
Morata was full of confidence that the Portuguese coach would thrive back at the club where he previously managed, predicting success for his former boss.
“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.”
