Alvaro Morata has expressed regret over his decision to depart Atletico Madrid for AC Milan last summer. The Spanish striker revealed that personal difficulties led him to make a poor choice, despite warnings from those close to him. Morata explained that Paulo Fonseca’s persistent communication made him feel valued, ultimately persuading him to return to Serie A.

During his brief stint with Milan, Morata scored just five goals in 16 league appearances before departing in December. His exit was influenced by Sergio Conceiçao’s arrival as manager. In January, Morata joined Galatasaray on loan, allowing Milan to finance the acquisition of Santiago Gimenez, a forward better suited to Conceiçao’s tactical approach.

Reflecting on his decision, Morata now realizes he underestimated Diego Simeone’s faith in him at Atletico. “I shouldn’t have left Atlético, but I was struggling mentally. When you’re not in a good place, you make poor decisions in all aspects of life,” Morata told Cadena Ser.

He added, “Milan’s coach called me daily – I needed to feel appreciated. I had to decide quickly and didn’t realize that Simeone also valued me. My father and agent warned me I was making a mistake, but I didn’t listen. When you’re going through tough times, everything seems bleak, even when people around you say otherwise.”

Morata concluded, “If I could turn back time, I would never leave Atlético. But you can’t change the past, and now I’m very content.”

The striker’s loan agreement with Galatasaray extends until January 2026 and includes an €8 million option to make the transfer permanent, which can be exercised by January 15, 2026.