
Alvaro Morata set to retire after crucial penalty miss - 'I felt like crying'
Spain were beaten by Portugal in the Nations League final on Sunday evening with ex-Chelsea star Alvaro Morata missing the decisive penalty for his side before Ruben Neves won the game
Alvaro Morata has admitted he is considering Spain retirement after missing the crucial penalty in the Nations League final. The Euro 2024 champions took on Portugal in Munich on Sunday evening and battled to a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Arsenal target Martin Zubimendi opened the scoring for Spain before Nuno Mendes replied with an excellent effort. Mikel Oyarzabal put Spain ahead once again ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo 's equaliser.
Penalties came and went with Morata seeing his effort saved by Portugal star Diogo Costa, with Ruben Neves winning the trophy with his successful effort. Speaking after his miss, Morata has admitted he could consider stepping back from the international stage.
He said: "I feel sorry for my teammates, but that's part of life. I thank the coach for his words. The penalty? I took it badly, I could have done better, but there's nothing I can do about it.
'I'm leaving angry. I wanted to cry, even though I didn't. My children were in the stands, and in life, you have to learn."
On retirement, the ex-Chelsea man said: "I'm only thinking about what happened today, but it's possible I won't be back in September."
Morata, 32, has accumulated 86 appearances for Spain since his international debut in 2014 and has gone on to score 37 goals - the fourth-highest in the nation's history behind just Fernando Torres, Raul and David Villa.
While Spain boss Luis De La Fuente recognised Morata's error, he refused to blame the striker. He said: "All the penalty takers were at an excellent level, and if Morata made a mistake, it was because he dared to. Morata is a champion and a role model for us. I'm really sorry he made that mistake, but I'm responsible for it because I asked him to."
Who was man-of-the-match between Portugal and Spain? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Morata now faces a major decision over his club future, as well as his international commitments. The ex- Chelsea and Atletico Madrid man spent the second half of last season on loan at Turkish giants Galatasaray, with that deal set to expire in January 2026.
He scored seven goals across 16 outings in all competitions, helping the side win the league with an eye-watering 95 points That move followed a disappointing six-month spell with Italian giants AC Milan as he netted just six times in 25 appearances. Morata had only signed for Milan last summer from Atletico Madrid.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Metro
27 minutes ago
- Metro
Leroy Sane sends message to Bayern Munich over Arsenal transfer
Leroy Sane has indicated he is 'very interested' in a move to Arsenal amid his contract dispute with Bayern Munich, according to reports in Germany. The 29-year-old winger will become a free agent in a matter of weeks after failing to reach an agreement with Bayern over a contract extension. Sane joined the Bundesliga giants from Manchester City in 2020 in a deal worth up to £55m. Making at least 40 appearances every season since arriving at the club, Sane has been a hugely influential member of the Bayern squad, playing a major role in four league title wins. Bayern Munich bosses are keen to keep hold of Sane and have already offered him a new three-year contract on reduced terms. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. But Sane rejected the offer as he is unwilling to take a pay-cut and has since been linked with a number of Premier League clubs. German outlet BILD say Sane is yet to make a final decision on his future despite the fact he is set to become a free agent on July 1. It is also claimed Sane is 'very interested' in joining Arsenal, with a move to London 'appealing' to him and his wife Candice. Sane has attracted interest from Arsenal's Premier League rivals Tottenham and Newcastle United but moves to those clubs does not appear to be a genuine possibility at this stage. Other options include a move to Saudi Arabia or Serie A champions Napoli but those are less attractive to Sane, according to BILD. 'I would love Leroy Sane to sign for Spurs; he's a world class player who has won everything. 'Why would you not want him at your football club? He might've picked up a few injuries in his career, but you can't tell me he wouldn't be a great signing for Spurs – even if he demands £250,000 a week!' Former Spurs midfielder Jamie O'Hara speaking to Grosvenor Sport Despite the intense transfer speculation, Sane is not expected to make a decision before the Club World Cup starts this weekend. Bayern are even considering offering Sane a short-term contract to ensure he features in the tournament, even if he could leave shortly after Bayern Munich return from the United States. Sane is also aware of interest from Turkish giants Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, who are both ready to make lucrative offers to secure his signature. But a move to Arsenal would give Sane a reunion with Mikel Arteta, who he worked with at Manchester City while the current Gunners boss was assistant to Pep Guardiola. Arteta is keen to bolster his attacking options ahead of the 2025-26 campaign but Didi Hamann believes it would be a mistake to sign Sane. 'If you look at Arsenal, I think you need very good players to improve the team,' Hamann told Best Betting Sites. 'And obviously Saka plays on the right. More Trending 'Leroy Sane mainly plays on the right and he's a hugely talented player. He's been at Bayern for five years now. He just hasn't done it on a consistent basis. 'Now, why would he do it now for the next three years when he's 29? He's a hugely talented player, but we shouldn't talk about a player who's 29 about his talent – we should talk about the impact they have and the medals they've won. 'At that age, you're looking for guarantees from your performance level, and Sane just hasn't given me any assurance that he can deliver consistently. 'I don't think Arsenal should be looking at him and certainly not moving for him.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Arsenal interested in sensational £70m swoop for Man Utd star to rival Chelsea MORE: Why Benjamin Sesko isn't playing for Slovenia tonight after Arsenal transfer links MORE: PSG star Gianluigi Donnarumma responds to Man Utd and Man City transfer links


Reuters
30 minutes ago
- Reuters
Celtic sign Tierney from Arsenal on five-year deal
June 10 (Reuters) - Celtic have signed Scotland left back Kieran Tierney from Arsenal on a five-year contract, the Scottish Premiership champions said on Tuesday. The 28-year-old, who made his senior debut at Celtic in 2015, will be back at the club after six years. He made 170 appearances for the Scottish club, scoring eight goals before joining Arsenal in 2019. "Everybody's known for a few months and just to be here with the Celtic strip on again just feels amazing," Tierney said. "... When you move away from home, you grow up, you learn different things. I was in Spain (with Real Sociedad on loan) for a year, learning a different language and playing in a different league, so I'm definitely a different person. "My ambition is just for Celtic to be as successful as possible, retain our place at the top and continue to win trophies and do well for Celtic."


BBC News
31 minutes ago
- BBC News
Rodgers 'so pleased' to bring back 'elite player' Tierney
Brendan Rodgers is "so pleased" to bring back "such an elite player" in Kieran Tierney after it was confirmed the defender has signed a five-year deal at Tierney thrived under Rodgers' management during both of their first spells at the Parkhead then, the pair have spent time in the Premier League, Tierney at Arsenal and Rodgers at Leicester, before being reunited in Glasgow."He is such a talented, high quality player and he will be a massive addition to our squad," Rodgers said."Kieran has always had Celtic in his blood and he is excited to be coming back to the place he loves."He is someone who has given so much to Celtic already and I know he is so motivated and hungry to help the club bring more and more success to our fans."We are so pleased to bring such an elite player back to the club and I look forward to working with him again."