There was a social media rumour on Thursday that Marca has claimed Alvaro Morata to Manchester United is off, it isn’t happening and that’s that. The Spanish newspaper hasn’t reported anything of the kind.
In fact, despite some Manchester United supporters foaming at the mouth for a battle with Marca, the Spanish newspaper don’t seem bitter about the Morata situation. Sure, last summer there was certainly some bitterness over Paul Pogba, and things got childish, but if anything it seems like they’re going out of their way to be civil on this one.
It’s probably got a lot to do with Real Madrid being double Champions League winners and La Liga holders, or perhaps there’s been an up-taking of yoga in the Marca offices.
Whatever the reason, there’s no battle bunkers being used here.
In their Friday edition, Marca underline their coverage of the situation, explaining what an important role Jose Mourinho played in Morata’s early career at Real Madrid, being a big backer of the youngster.
They say ‘everything points to’ Morata, or ‘Mourata’, leaving Real Madrid and signing for Mourinho at Manchester United, but once again there’s no panic. No swapping of timeframe from last Friday, to Monday, to Thursday, to Friday again, to next week, they’ve just been laying the situation out as they see it… Real Madrid want €90m or as close as dammit.
As others catch up with the €90m claim, Marca have been making that clear for a while, always pointing out that something close to that could work too.
If Morata goes for that amount, fine, it was his choice. If not, good, he can be an important member of the squad again.