Morata: Leaving Atlético Madrid was my biggest mistake

Álvaro Morata has described his decision to leave Atlético Madrid as the biggest mistake of his career. In an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca, the striker expressed deep regret over his departure from the club he considers his true home.

Morata's Regret

“The decision to leave Atlético Madrid has been my biggest mistake,” Morata told Marca. “I’d swap all my career titles for a single title at Atléti. It’s the club I love, I was so happy there.”

The 31-year-old forward, who came through Atlético's youth academy, left the club in 2019 to join Chelsea for a reported €66 million. He later had spells at Juventus and returned to Atlético on loan in 2020 before making the move permanent in 2021. However, he left again in 2023 to join AC Milan on loan, with an option to buy.

A Career of Highs and Lows

Morata has won numerous trophies throughout his career, including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and multiple domestic league titles with Real Madrid, Juventus, and Chelsea. Despite this success, he remains haunted by his departure from the club he supported as a child.

“I was happy at Atlético, and I made a mistake by leaving,” he reiterated. “I would give back everything I have won to have achieved something with this club.”

Current Situation

Morata is currently on loan at AC Milan, where he has scored 5 goals in 15 appearances this season. The Italian club holds an option to make the move permanent, but Morata's comments suggest his heart remains in Madrid.

Atlético Madrid fans have long held a complicated relationship with Morata, who has been both praised for his commitment and criticized for his inconsistency. His latest remarks may help mend fences with the fanbase, though a return seems unlikely in the near future.