European football champions Real Madrid on Wednesday officially paid 30 million euros ($33 million) for a buyback option to re-sign striker Alvaro Morata from Italian Champions Juventus.
Juventus confirmed that the 23-year-old will return to Real after two seasons here following the Spanish outfit's decision to activate the forward's buy-back clause.
With 27 goals to his name in 93 appearances -- the vast majority of them scored in crucially important matches -- Morata has departed the club as a firm favourite among fans and team-mates alike and can look back with pride on a richly fruitful spell in Northern Italy.
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 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.
--IANS
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