Real Madrid set to exercise buy-back clause to bring Alvaro Morata to the Santiago Bernabeu

Juventus striker Alvaro Morata had a buy-back clause inserted into the contract when he made the switch from Real Madrid in 2014. This clause is set to expire next month and Los Blancos are ready to cash in to bring back their highly rated young striker.

Spaniard Alvaro Morata’s transfer saga, which involves some of the top clubs in Europe, has now taken another turn. Real Madrid have grown interested in the striker and are willing to exercise the buy-back clause that would bring him back to the club. Earlier, it was understood that the Los Blancos would offload the striker to a Premier League side for a profit, but by the looks of it, Morata is set to be part of the Real Madrid squad come the start of the 2016/17 season, according to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.

The striker’s agent Juanma Lopez is reportedly in negotiations with the Los Blancos, regarding the activation of his client’s buy-back clause. Premier League side Chelsea are still keeping tabs on Morata, and the Blues are pushing hard for the player. Incoming manager Antonio Conte had earlier expressed his desire to work with Morata, and if the Real Madrid deal falls through, Chelsea would be one of the first teams waiting to snap him up.

Is a move to the Santiago Bernabeu in the best interests of the player?

While it is given that a player of Alvaro Morata’s calibre would bring a lot to the table for Real Madrid, doubts still loom about his involvement in the side. The Spanish club are known to play a traditional 4-3-3 with only one out-and-out striker. Karim Benzema has performed superbly in that position and it would be a Herculean task for Morata to usurp the Frenchman to become the club’s number one strike option.

Morata is nearing his peak and the next couple of seasons are key in his development as a player. He wouldn’t want to be the second-choice striker and play the odd 15-20 minutes at the end of every game. Regular playing time is essential for his growth, but it is a major doubt whether the Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane can guarantee that.

Also the striker hasn’t been at his flying best with Juventus this past season. In 47 appearances, an erratic Morata netted only 12 times. He is known to have constant lapses in form and that clearly isn’t something Zidane wants at Real Madrid.