30 March 2016
After leading the line for Spain during the recent international break, Alvaro Morata’s schedule is no less hectic since returning to Vinovo for the first training session of the week yesterday.
Keeping the 23-year-old forward on his toes this afternoon were 18 Junior Members, who had won the opportunity to put their questions forward to their hero via the Junior Reporter contest.
From friendships within the dressing room, cooking skills to his favourite goal in Bianconeri colours, Morata covered just as much ground at Juventus’ Media Center as he is accustomed to on matchdays at Juventus Stadium.
Without any ado, the young Juventini were already asking Morata for advice on how to make it as a professional footballer.
Technique, tactics and fitness all help of course, but the Spaniard was keen to focus on the most important aspect of all: “to enjoy playing the beautiful game.”
The big matches have hardly been lacking since Morata joined from Real Madrid in July 2014, but there is one that stands out in particular: the 2015 Champions League final against Barcelona.
Asked which fixture he would entertain playing for a second time, last summer’s showpiece event was unsurprisingly his answer, but this time, to finish on the winning side.
With seven strikes to his name in the Champions League many of Morata’s best moments in black and white have come in Europe’s premier club competition and, by his own admission, also his favourite goal.
In the same way that Morata now represents a role model for many youngsters, aspiring to pave their way in the game, he too claimed to have been inspired by the likes of Raul and Cristiano Ronaldo while growing up in Madrid before looking up to a whole host of players upon moving to Turin.
“I’ve learnt a lot as a striker from Tevez in particular, but also from players in other positions such as Buffon, Pirlo, Pogba, Marchisio, etc.”
Shifting attentions to which team-mates he considered his best friends at the club, Morata stressed that the spirit within the side was such that he got on well with everyone, especially strike partner Simone Zaza. The Italy international forward currently dons the Spaniard’s favourite number seven, which he jokingly suggested the Calabrian may be prepared to swap for his more traditional number nine.
Wrapping up the press conference, there was time to get to know not merely Morata the player but also Morata the man, with particular focus on his fondness of certain foods. Hailing from Madrid, his love for ‘jamon’ was perhaps to be predicted, but he assured supporters that classic Italian creations such as pasta and pizza had also shot up to the top of his shopping list.
Whilst appreciating his own individual hobbies, it was hardly lost on Morata that the key to success in a squad is that of being available to help others at any time.
He concluded: “For a team to truly work, each member needs to do their part and to help the group move as a whole in the same direction. This is certainly evident at Juventus, where we all celebrate each other’s goals as if they were our own! This isn’t just a football club, but a family.”
For those budding Bianconeri journalists out there, there will be further opportunities to pose questions to players by buying a Junior Membership and entering the contest on this page.
