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Alvaro Morata regrets leaving Atletico Madrid

Alvaro Morata said he already regrets leaving Atletico Madrid last summer, admitting he “should have thought things through more.”

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Morata regrets leaving Atletico Madrid

Morata left Atletico for AC Milan in July 2024 after spending four seasons at the LaLiga club.

However, he moved again in January, joining Galatasaray on loan after Milan coach Paulo Fonseca was replaced by Sergio Conceicao.

The Spain captain has previously spoken publicly about his mental health challenges, revealing last year that he nearly quit the national team due to depression and panic attacks.

“In the summer, I should have thought about things more,” Morata told Cadena SER radio on Tuesday.

“[I should have thought about] whether to leave Atletico or not. When things aren’t right in certain parts of your life, you take the wrong decisions, not just in football.”

“You can’t change it. You have to move forward. We’re very happy, I’m happy with my football, I’m happy with the national team. Next year if all goes well and [Galatasaray] win the league, we’ll be in the Champions League. Turkey might seem a less competitive league, but the Champions League is the Champions League.

“[With hindsight] for sure I wouldn’t have taken [the decision]… I didn’t know how to see the reality. We were European champions, at Atlético there were more and more people who loved me, who understood me. But they are decisions you take in life.”

Morata in a “difficult moment”

Morata joins Spain for this week’s UEFA Nations League quarterfinals against the Netherlands.

The 32-year-old forward previously played for Real Madrid, Juventus, and Chelsea before first joining Atletico in 2019.

He spent a season and a half there before returning to Juventus in 2020, then rejoined Atletico in 2022.

During Spain’s Euro 2024 campaign, Morata suggested he would remain at the LaLiga club, but a change of heart led him to move to Milan.

“When you’re in a difficult moment, things look dark, you don’t see things clearly,” Morata said.

“Even if you have people close to you, who tell you that you’re wrong. Things happen fast, you have to take decisions. I was bothered by the issue [of my future] during the Euros, and the opportunity at Milan came up. You need to feel wanted and valued. But looking back, [coach] Cholo [Simeone] valued and wanted me too.”