Whilst most of the talk in Turin in the recent months has been about the futures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala, another striker also faces an uncertain future at the club. Alvaro Morata completed his return to Juventus last summer, but will it be another short stint for the number 9?
The Spaniard had previously impressed while playing for the Old Lady between 2014 and 2016, but was eventually forced to return to Real Madrid where he struggled for playing time, and his latter stints at Chelsea and Atletico Madrid were barely an improvement.
Therefore, the 28-year-old was ecstatic when making his comeback to the black and white house.
However, after a solid start to the season, the striker has been plagued by physical problems since the turn of the new year, and has been unable to replicate his performances from the first few months of the season.
Thus, La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Calciomercato) believes that Juventus are currently pondering on the future of Morata at the club.
The former Chelsea man arrived from Atletico Madrid last summer on an initial loan deal worth 10 million euros until the end of the current campaign.
The Bianconeri management have the option to redeem the player’s contract on a permanent basis for an additional fee worth 45 millions.
However, this option is becoming more and more unlikely with every passing day, especially amidst the current financial difficulties that the club is facing.
Nonetheless, Juventus possess another option, and that it maintaining Morata on loan for a second season, for another 10 millions. In this case, the Italians will be able to redeem the Spaniard’s outrights for an additional transfer fee of 35 millions by the end of the 2021/22 campaign.
But even this last scenario seems to be expensive for the club’s hierarchy – especially if the Spain international fails to find his best form between now and the end of the season.
Therefore, the source claims that Fabio Paratici and company are hoping to receive a discount from Atletico in order to renew the player’s loan stint for next season.
Otherwise, Morata’s situation at the club will become even more complicated.