Barcelona duo convinced Spain captain to continue in the team after Euro success | OneFootball

In a campaign where players like Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams grabbed headlines, Alvaro Morata was one of the unsung heroes for Spain in the European Championship last summer.

The captain of the Spanish national team, despite being a goalscorer, was assigned a more versatile role in the attacking third – to run and press for his team in the first line of press.

Morata’s efforts saw him feature in all the matches in the tournament but with just one goal to his name. However, his work ethic was critical in helping Spain steer in the right direction.

However, after the tournament was over, Morata had considered quitting the national team as he approached the final phase of his career.

What stopped Morata from quitting?

In a recent interview with MARCA (h/t SPORT), Morata revealed that it was the Barcelona duo of Pedri and Olmo that convinced him to continue with the national team.

“When I did that interview (El Mundo) Pedri and Dani Olmo told me that they would like me to be with them,” Morata revealed.

Morata is currently plying his trade for Galatasaray (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

“That encouraged me to continue because in the end, I would always be in the national team, all my life, but there are times when you suffer, but I have already recovered from that stage. I just enjoy the national team,” he added.

Morata is a well-respected figure within the Spanish team, especially among the Barcelona stars, including Yamal, Olmo and Pedri.

Therefore, it is no wonder why Olmo and Pedri tried to convince the veteran forward to continue playing for the national team.

Since the Euro 2024, Morata has featured in four matches for Spain, notably scoring against Serbia in October.

One would expect Morata, who was a target for Barcelona in the past, to be on the teamsheet as Spain takes on the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals in March.

In the meantime, the veteran forward is focusing on the season at hand with his new club Galatasaray, where he has already scored two goals since joining the club in the winter transfer window.