Álvaro Morata

Álvaro Morata was born in Madrid in 1992 and spent part of his childhood in Atlético's academy before making his name elsewhere: Real Madrid, Juventus and Chelsea. In 2019 he came to Atlético, first on loan from Chelsea and then permanently.

Goals in red and white

Morata was a mobile centre-forward who linked play, ran the channels and scored with his head and both feet. In his first season he formed a partnership with Diego Costa and later with Antoine Griezmann. After two years on loan back at Juventus, he returned for 2022–23 and 2023–24, his most productive seasons at the club, scoring regularly in La Liga and the Champions League.

Captain of Spain

During his time at Atlético he became captain of Spain, and in 2024 he lifted the European Championship. He left for AC Milan that summer, having scored more than 45 league goals for the club over his spells.

Legacy

Morata's time at Atlético was not the longest, but for supporters who remember him as an academy boy it closed a circle: a Madrid kid who came home and led the line.