Morata ‘needed’ Madrid change

Juventus striker Alvaro Morata says he needed a change after joining the Italians from Real Madrid for a reported €20m last summer.

The 22-year-old, who has been called into the Spain squad for Saturday’s Euro 2016 qualifier with Belarus and the friendly with Germany three days later, believes it is the new-found confidence he has gained since his move to Italy that is the reason he has been selected.

“It’s a dream to be here and I want to make the most of it, so I’m going to take in everything that is happening to me,” he told Cadena Cope’s ‘Play 12’ programme.

“Everyone has helped me, above all Sergio [Ramos] and Iker [Casillas]. Sergio is a great guy who gives me lots of advice, but the Coach has also told me I’m here on merit because of what I’ve done for my club, and I must seize this opportunity.

“I’m very happy right now and I needed the change. Mentally I am very confident, although I think in any kind of work that’s fundamentally the same, but things are going much better and I’m enjoying things.”

However, he refused to be drawn into comparisons between Real Madrid and Juventus.

“Madrid is the biggest club in Spain and Juve the biggest in Italy, so if we talk at the end of the season I’ll tell you then who the best is,” said Morata, who revealed he had received words of encouragement from clubmate Fernando Llorente.

“He wished me luck, told me to enjoy the experience, and said that he was really happy for me.”

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