Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata “very happy” to be joining Juventus

Alvaro Morata (R)

Alvaro Morata has revealed his joy at signing for Juventus this summer, despite having been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League over the course of the close season.

Morata was a target for both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur after finding his path into the Real Madrid squad blocked by the likes of Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, leaving the Spanish Under 21 international to seek pastures new.

Neither Premier League club were willing to pay the €25million that Real were demanding for their academy graduate, however, and Morata has now opted to join Juventus, despite the fact that he will now have to compete against the likes of Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez for a regular place in the starting XI.

A fee of €22m has reportedly been agreed with Real inserting a buy-back clause into the deal, but Morata has claimed that he is very happy to be joining Juventus and is looking forward to the new challenge of playing for the current Serie A champions.

Morata told reporters, “I’m very happy. This is a new challenge for me.”

The 21-year-old striker made his debut for Real back in 2010 and is tipped to have a bright future in the game, but the player himself knows that he needs to be playing regular first team football if he is to fulfill his potential.

Alvaro Morata won 21 of his 30 headed duels for Real Madrid last season, emerging successful with 70% of his contested aerial duels.