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Real Madrid take up Morata buyback option

Xinhua, July 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

Spanish football giant Real Madrid on Wednesday officially paid the 30 million euros (33 million US dollar) buyback clause to re-sign striker Alvaro Morata from Italian Champions Juventus.

Juventus confirmed the news that the 23-year-old Spain internationals, who scored 27 goals in 93 appearances for the club, will return to Spain, for the short term at least.

Madrid sold youth team product, Morata to Juventus for 20 million euros two years ago, but his form in Italy has persuaded the club to take up the buy-back option, especially after he scored three goals for Spain in this summer' s European Championships further heightened his profile.

It is still far from certain if Morata will play for Real Madrid next season as the striker is highly regarded in the Premier League and Madrid could be tempted to make a quick profit by selling him to Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester United, who are all said to be following his progress.

Morata himself has said that he wants to be assured game time wherever he plays in order to continue his progression as a footballer and with Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema already at Real Madrid, the club would find it difficult to guarantee him a starting place in the side, especially for big games.

If he were to stay at the Bernabeu, however, his return would almost certainly lead to fellow striker, Jese Rodriguez seeking a move away for the club as he would fall even further down the pecking order. Endit