Real Madrid striker reveals talks with Tottenham and Chelsea

Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata has revealed he held talks with Tottenham and Chelsea about a summer switch after Euro 2016 but Real Madrid were not interested in selling him.

Zinedine Zidane’s triggered a clause in Morata’s deal with Juventus to re-sign the striker in June 2016 but there were suggestions the reigning European champions would look to cash in on the striker following his fine form at Euro 2016 rather than keep him.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte was heavily linked with a move for Morata last summer and while the Spain international admitted his desire to live in London, he confessed that Madrid were simply not looking to sell him for a second time, while also revealing he held talks with Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino.

“Various Premier League coaches called to tell me to play for them [after Euro 2016],” Morata told The Guardian. “I said yeah, I’d like to, that if I had to leave I would almost certainly go London, but that I didn’t know what Madrid would do.

“I knew they’d bring me back but I didn’t know if it was to keep me or sell me. I spoke directly to Mauricio Pochettino and Antonio Conte, although the norm is clubs call my dad or agent. Madrid said they didn’t want to sell, so here I am.”

Morata has endured another frustrating spell at Madrid after struggling to usurp Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in the pecking order when everyone is fully fit and further questions have been raised about his long-term future ahead of this summer.

Chelsea are reportedly still interested in the Spaniard’s services as they bid to build a squad capable of competing in next season’s Champions League and they could have the edge in the pursuit of the 24-year-old after Conte made a lasting impression on the striker’s father. “I remember talking to my dad then and him saying: ‘This guy’s [Conte] going to win the league there,’”

He was right. Chelsea are seven points clear of Tottenham at the top of the table and have all but secured their second Premier League title in three years. As for Morata, despite only starting 10 of his 20 league appearances this season, only Cristiano Ronaldo (19) has scored more goals than the Spaniard (11) for Madrid this season.

For more stats on Alvaro Morata, click here to visit his WhoScored player page