Alvaro Morata opens up on Chelsea nightmare and 'pressure' after failed £60m transfer

Alvaro Morata has admitted he struggled to cope with the pressure of playing for Chelsea.

Signed by Antonio Conte in 2017, the Spaniard arrived for a club-record fee and proved an initial hit. Nine goals in 14 games had few Blues supporters concerned about Diego Costa’s exit in the same summer.

However, Morata’s form nosedived after the new year and he was shipped out to Atletico Madrid just two years after his £60million move. Even when he showed signs of improvement, like after bagging a brace against Crystal Palace in November 2018, a horror miss late on is what grabbed the headlines.

The 31-year-old has rebuilt his career since returning to Spain, becoming an established La Liga striker and first choice at international level. Speaking to Radioestadio Noche, Morata opened up about his “bad” experience in England.

“I had a really bad time in England. I spoke with my wife and told her I might go to a club that I knew, where there was less pressure. I don’t look at social media; I don’t have time to beat myself up.”

Morata also hailed his time at Atletico as «the best» of his career, having spent time at Real Madrid and Juventus as well as Chelsea. He credited the backing of Diego Simeone as a major influence in his resurgence.

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“Without a doubt, it is the happiest time in my career, and I hope it ends up being a great year," Morata added. «It is the best and most important I have felt both at Atletico Madrid and in the Spain national team. It hasn’t been easy; I’ve gone through difficult moments.

When you have the confidence