Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata has revealed he would only consider a third stint at Real Madrid if he was given assurances about regular playing time.
Morata has spent five years of his professional career playing for Madrid but failed to establish himself as a first-team regular during that time.
The Spain international first left Madrid to join Juventus in 2014 before Zinedine Zidane’s side triggered their buy-back option two years later.
Despite finishing last season as Madrid’s second top goalscorer in La Liga, Morata only started 14 times before leaving the reigning European champions to join Chelsea over the summer in a deal worth a club-record £60m.
The 25-year-old, who has established himself as a first-team regular for the first time in his career, has made a superb start to the season but has left the door open to a third stint at the Bernabeu.
“I felt important for Madrid, but I wanted to play in the knockout stages of the Champions League,” he told radio show El Larguero on Cadena Ser.
“I told the coach I wanted to play more, to say that I wanted to go is nonsense. The critics do not affect me. Of course, I would return to Real Madrid, but it’s complicated.”
Morata has played a direct hand in 10 goals in as many Premier League appearances (seven goals, three assists) for Chelsea this season.
In fact, only Manchester City duo Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane (11) have scored or assisted more times than the Chelsea No.9 in England's top-tier, while no player in Europe’s top five leagues has scored more headers (Morata - 4).
