Morata has been Spain's natural choice in the center forward role for some time now.
As the national team sealed a place at next year's European Championship, the focus was understandably on the collective effort halfway through the international break. In his quest for success-and perhaps recognition-the number seven's latest endeavors mean he will fly back to Madrid one step closer to becoming one of Spain's most successful goalscorers.
If he's not one already, that is. Morata is a way off La Roja's record talisman, David Villa, who leads the charts with 59 strikes. Following his latest performances in coach Luis de la Fuente's lineup, which included a game-winning header against Scotland, he can instead look to overtake former forward Fernando Torres, four ahead on 38, and perhaps even match the great Raul, with 44, further down the road.
But despite this glamorous company, the 30-year-old's career has rarely seemed picture-perfect.
Spain aside, he's worn four prestigious crests: Real Madrid, Chelsea, Juventus and Atletico. When totted up, his moves have cost these clubs around EUR189 million ($200 million) in transfer spend. And with those names, expectation has duly followed-especially at Chelsea, prepared to bet approximately EUR69 million ($73 million) on him succeeding. Ultimately, he was never the bonafide star to deliver the return on that particular investment, nor the one to set the world alight elsewhere.
Next year's European Championships could be the forward's last opportunity to win a major ... [+] competition with Spain.
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Atletico's focal point lacks the idolized status Torres, Raul and Villa boasted in their prime. A memorable major trophy win for Spain is also missing from his record, unlike the strikers, except Raul, he's chasing. That colors opinion. And while their stays in Turin only briefly overlapped, stealing the show at Juventus was always tricky-with Cristiano Ronaldo hogging the most attention during his second stint in Italy.
Morata, turning 31, rose through Real's Castilla academy ranks and had a respectable stab at making a career with Los Blancos early on. Never synonymous with one club, he's mainly sidestepped between La Liga and Serie A and has endured criticism-even abuse-along the way. Naturally, it's taken its toll. At the same time, the Spaniard likes proving his doubters wrong and was the hero in Los Rojiblancos' statement victory over Real in the derby on September 24, the day he came alive.
Is he on course for unreserved acclaim? Under coach Diego Simeone, Morata is producing some of his best soccer at an Atletico side more akin to what the Argentine's best teams can be. On the Madrid outskirts, Morata finally has a place to settle and thrive, which, curiously, is where it all started, having made his first steps there as a youth player.
The noise from the capital suggests he's an asset worth keeping-a reward for his performances. Morata rejected the chance to move to Saudi Arabia over the summer and appears set to stay at the Metropolitano until 2026, having already held promising discussions with the club, where he's netted five goals in seven matches this campaign.
Morata is a delicate force-a potent striker who needs to feel highly valued wherever he goes. While such is true for any player, it's the key to getting the best version possible, which Atletico and Spain are starting to discover.