Juventus will try to retain Alvaro Morata at the end of the season, but Barcelona remain in the mix after making a serious attempt in January. However, the Blaugrana need to come to terms with Atletico Madrid to make it happen.
According to Catalan newspaper Sport, the Bianconeri will ask for a significant discount on their option to buy him out. They would have to pay €35M as per the previous agreement. They already expended €20M to have him on loan for the past two seasons. They would like to disburse at most €15M next summer.
Barcelona will need to start negotiating to acquire Morata soon. Otherwise, Juventus could easily beat them to the punch. He is in touch with coach Xavi, the biggest proponent of such transfer. In any scenario, the Colchoneros will prioritize a permanent sale. The forward has only a year left on their contract with them. His future could also hinge on whether the Catalans will land Erling Haaland.
Arsenal made a late move to sign the Spanish striker in January and continue to lurk. However, Morata favors Barcelona and Juventus as he did not have a great time in London in the past. He was asked about what happened in January earlier today: “It does not matter now. I talked with the coach during the transfer market window, and he told me that the arrival of Dusan Vlahovic would help me. That proved to be correct. If it were up to me, I would stay here forever.”