Álvaro Morata has joined AC Milan on a permanent transfer from Atlético Madrid, the Italian giants announced on Friday.
Morata, who captained Spain to Euro 2024 glory on Sunday, underwent a medical before putting pen to paper on a four-year contract with the Rossoneri.
Milan had earlier activated Morata’s €15 million ($16.3m) release clause.
Morata, 31, scored 46 goals in 117 appearances for Atlético since joining the club on an initial loan deal from Chelsea in January of 2019.
His decision to leave now the Rojiblancos with two years left on his contract surprised many fans considering that only two weeks ago, Morata had posted on Instagram a photograph of him wearing an Atlético jersey with the message: “I can’t imagine what it must be like to win with this shirt and I’m not going to stop until I get it @atleticodemadrid ❤️.”
However, Morata had recently complained during the European Championship in Germany that he received no respect from the media and fans in Spain.
He bid farewell to his Atlético teammates on Tuesday in Madrid and explained the reasons for his decision to leave the Rojiblancos.
“When you are in a place that for different reasons you can’t give your 100 percent, it is best for everyone this [to leave] option,” Morata said.
On what made him decide to join AC Milan, he told Sky Italia: “A simple thing. The trust shown to me by Zlatan [Ibrahimovic], the squad and the coach.
“I know I still have the best years of my career ahead of me and I want to go to this big club that is Milan.
“The truth is that Italians have treated me with incredible respect. I can’t wait to go and play there again [in Serie A].
“They have transmitted me all positive things.”
Morata had seen his playing time reduced this year but at Milan, he is expected to find minutes following the departure of French forward Olivier Giroud.
Giroud moved to LAFC after his contract with the Rossoneri expired in June.
A return to Serie A was a good option for Morata, whose wife Alice Campello is Italian.
Morata played a total of four seasons on loan at Juventus, first from Real Madrid and then from Atlético.
He won two Scudetti and three Coppa Italia trophies with the Turin giants before returning to Atlético in the summer of 2022.