Juve Rightly Concerned Over Potential Morata Madrid Return

Rather aptly, it’s in black and white and there for all to see. A month ago, Football Leaks released the terms of the agreement between Juventus and Real Madrid for Alvaro Morata. The fee, as reported the summer before last, is €20m and its payment is structured in four instalments. To elaborate further, all Morata cost Juventus last season, excluding his wages, was €4m. How galling it must have been for Real to see him score against them in both legs of a Champions League semi-final.  

The details everyone wanted confirmation about, however, regarded the buy-back clauses included in the arrangement. For a fortnight - July 1 to July 16 - Real can exercise an opción de compra this summer and the next. The criteria determining the price of Morata is outlined as follows: if he plays in less than 25% of Juventus’ games this season, the Old Lady will be entitled to her original investment of €20m. Participation in between 25% and 50% of her games will increase the asking price to €25m. Turnout of more than 50% will oblige Real to put €30m on the table.  

An appearance is defined as “at least 45 minutes” on the pitch. Accordingly Morata has played in 52% of Juventus’ matches so far this season. So Real will have to pay full whack if they wish to see him back at the Bernabeu soon. It’s unscientific but Transfermarkt’s rough valuation of Morata at the moment is €23.5m. Juventus would, in theory, then be getting more than he is worth if Real were to activate the clause in the summer. Still you’d think Morata would be valued higher.  

His performance in the second leg of Juventus’ thrilling Round of 16 tie with Bayern Munich was on the biggest stage and it got everybody talking. His pace on the counter, the delightful lob that was wrongly disallowed and his awareness and composure in picking out Juan Cuadrado after running practically from box to box for Juventus’ second goal made him their Man of the Match.  

By now it seems likely Morata was born under the same star as Zibi Boniek. Juventus’ former president Gianni Agnelli used to call Boniek Bello di Notte - Beauty of the Night - because he always saved his best for playing under the lights when it mattered most and it’s worth remembering how Morata’s career at Juventus really began to take off a year ago when he scored in both legs against Borussia Dortmund. He then matched a record set by Alessandro Del Piero in 1995/96 for goals in five consecutive Champions League games. They included those in both legs of the semi against Real, the one in the final against Barça, his wonder strike at Manchester City and another when Europa League holders Sevilla visited Turin.  

Although Morata didn’t score against Bayern, he did get an assist in both legs. In addition to Pep Guardiola’s changes, the turning point in many people’s eyes was when Max Allegri replaced him for Mario Mandzukic with 20 minutes of normal time remaining. All of a sudden, the momentum began to swing back in Bayern’s favour. A red tide became a tsunami. Juventus lost their threat on the counter. Backing up that performance, Morata did come off the bench and get a brace in Sunday’s Turin derby. Some wondered why he wasn’t starting. But one of the reasons his performances in the last week got fans so excited is because they thought Morata had lost his way a bit.  

To say it has been a complicated second season for him in Turin is an understatement. Morata is still young. He turned 23 in October. No longer a prospect or a back up for his friend Fernando Llorente, the pressure was different as a first team regular. Expectations had grown and there was a sense he would have to step up more than ever after big names left in the summer. A crisis-hit beginning to the season didn’t help much either. Early difficulties were also put down to “various aches and pains” and he “couldn’t get any continuity.” Morata didn’t play a full 90 minutes until December, in part because Allegri likes a substitution.  

Issues in his personal life - the break up with his girlfriend - were said to have hit him hard. But maybe the end of relationships on the pitch had just as big of an impact. Morata lost his strike partner Carlos Tevez. After learning his game and forming a formidable partnership, he had to start from scratch. Andrea Pirlo’s departure also presented a problem. His no-look passes over the top for Morata to run in-behind and chase down were a big part of his success. Now they were gone. And what about Llorente? Although he lost his place to Morata they were great mates. Always a constant source of support, the Gentle Giant was missed.  

Watching Morata it seemed as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Nothing went for him. Playing out on the left where he had to work like Alexey Stakhanov meant that when he did get in the position to finish, he lacked the required lucidity to score. “It was quite a difficult time for me,” he told RAI. “Off the pitch too. It would have been better if I’d left it there but I couldn’t.” He went 20 games without a goal. Twenty.

The turning point, Morata claims, was a conversation with Juventus’ captain. “Buffon was really important,” he revealed. “One day he took me to one side and said: ‘Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Show us what you’re made of’.”  Morata then scored a brace in the first leg of Juventus’ Coppa Italia semi-final against Inter. Four days later he got another one against Chievo. When the seasons change, Morata does too. Curiously he seems to come alive in spring. The primavera makes him a primo vero - a true first rate striker.  

Consider this: in the first half of last season, he averaged a goal every 190 minutes. In the second half of the campaign, Morata brought it down to one every 145 minutes. This season, the pattern is repeating itself. In the first half of it, he averaged a goal every 253 minutes. Now it is down to every 152.  

Preparing to play Italy in Udine on Thursday night, Morata was understandably asked about his future. “For me it’s difficult to talk about next year,” he said, “because I don’t know where I’ll be and it’s a strange situation. I can’t wait for it to be resolved. I am happy in Turin but I want to know where I should be buying a house. I want to know as soon as possible. I am happy at Juventus but going back to Madrid is a genuine possibility because there is a contract. It’s all there in writing.”  

Of particular interest was Morata’s revelation that he is in regular contact with Emilio Butragueño. “I talk to him a lot. Not only about football but life in general. I think he has got a fundamental role at Madrid and for me, as a fellow academy graduate, I’m proud that someone like him sends me messages after I score goals or play a good game.”  

If Real were to bring Morata back, what would it mean? Might it indicate that one of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale or Karim Benzema is leaving? Also if there is a genuine intention to re-sign him, Real better hope their transfer ban - which has temporarily been lifted on appeal - is definitively dismissed. Otherwise those buy-back clauses won't be worth the paper they are written on.  

For what it’s worth, Juventus don’t want to have to return Morata to sender. If that were to happen, the consolation is that they would have substantial leverage in negotiating for Isco or Benzema. But Juventus see Morata as a big part of their future. He’s one of the Old Lady’s leading men. She’s InnaMorata or ‘in love’ with her No.9.

Should Real Madrid re-sign Alvaro Morata and how much would he be missed at Juventus if they did? Let us know in the comments below