Arsenal are closing in on the signing of target Alvaro Morata from Atleti – a player Santi Cazorla once described as the future of Spain’s national team. Morata has spent the last two years on loan at Italian side Juventus.
Morata, 29, returned to Juventus in the summer of 2020 for a two-year loan spell. That comes after his first spell with the Old Lady, between 2014 and 2016. He sparkled in 2020-21, having a hand in 32 goals in 44 games.
But last season, he struggled. He only scored 12 goals in 48 games for Max Allegri’s side. He is now set to return to parent club Atleti, where he has 12 months left on his current deal. Arsenal are looking to take advantage.
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SPORT claim Juventus are unwilling to pay the £25million permanent clause, but Arsenal are – and are now very ‘close’ to a deal. A player, that Arsenal icon Cazorla once said could be the future of Spain’s national team.
“The future of Spain. He’s doing well at Juve and we’ve all already congratulated him for his goal,” Eurosport quoted Cazorla saying in 2015, after Morata netted his first Spain goal in a 1-0 win over Ukraine.
Cazorla said Arsenal target Morata future of Spain back in 2015
Arsenal need a striker. Eddie Nketiah is believed to be signing a new deal but with Alexandre Lacazette is likely to go. So, they need a new striker and Morata would be an excellent signing – even despite some criticism of late.
He was a brilliant player in his first season at Juventus of his second spell. If a team can play to his strengths, and he is the main man, he will thrive. Arsenal have the set up for Morata to come in and shine under Mikel Arteta.
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