Alvaro Morata, captain of the Spanish national team, has sparked widespread controversy ahead of tomorrow's match against France in Munich in the semifinals of the UEFA Euro 2024. In an interview published by the Spanish newspaper "El Mundo," Morata stated, "It is likely that I will leave the national team after the European Championship, and in Spain, there is no respect for anyone or anything," expressing his deep frustration over the plethora of criticism he faces.
Morata also confirmed that he is unsure about continuing with Atletico Madrid after his contract with the club expires, adding that he feels more loved outside of Spain. He continued, "In Spain, I find it very difficult to be happy; they respect nothing and no one."
Many Spanish media outlets have expressed strong anger towards Morata for his comments, which could threaten the stability of the team before such an important match against France. Previously, Morata had expressed his displeasure with the criticism in an interview with Spanish radio station "Cadena SER" before the start of the Euro 2024 competition. On June 13, he said, "The easiest thing for me is not to play in Spain to preserve my life, given what I face when I go out into the street in my country."
He added, "The easiest thing is to play abroad; often my five-year-old children do not understand why people are angry with their father." The former Juventus and Chelsea striker mentioned, "It would have been easy to leave Atletico last summer; I received better financial offers from great clubs." However, he concluded his statements at the time by saying, "But I have a passion for winning with Atletico, because the joy and enthusiasm of its fans towards the matches and victories are very significant."
