• Everything goes through Morata's mind The desire to win over Simeone again, that 'defeat' against Costa and the shadow of Juventus

The Continassa Training Center, at the foot of the Juventus Stadium, has no secrets for Álvaro Morata.

There he has spent more time training as a professional than anywhere else.

There, far from Madrid, he found his calm.

He found that corner in the world of football that, for example, he did not find in London, where he acknowledged having approached an abyss.

Due to circumstances, in this case the escalation of violence in Israel, he had to set foot again on those Turin facilities that he knows by heart.

More than one thought that, on the date of this friendly, he might already be back in Italy.

That Juve, squeezed by

Massimiliano Allegri

, would have already paid those 30 (odd) million claimed by Atlético.

But Álvaro appeared in the Bianconera

sports city

red and white dress

And, to Simeone's satisfaction, he did it in an overwhelming way (just like his team), with an unexpected hat-trick.

Perhaps he has forced Juve to up their ante.

Although everyone (and everything) seems calm in Madrid, there are still long days until August 31.

The last duel of Atlético in this preseason was gobbled up by Morata with three bites.

With a delicate pinch in the area, an elegant gallop and a light blow of bangs.

Although his coach was most passionate about stealing

Di María

, on the area line defended by

Grbic

, after a formidable race.

The Madrid striker was once again the starter and, after just over a tremendous hour on a discreet transalpine pitch, he sat down on the bench with that aftertaste of satisfaction at being the top scorer of the red and white preseason: four goals.

There will be no more tests before the duel in Getafe on Monday 15. And at this moment, except for an unexpected turn in the market, it is difficult to think that Álvaro will not be the 9 (although he looks 19) starting the team.

Right now, nobody releases more goal than him.

Because of his connection with

Joao Félix

the first target of the duel was born.

He and Morata showed

feeling

in an outcome to the counterattack that the Madrilenian holed with a cross shot against

Szczesny

.

Pure mental conviction, pure confidence.

Just like what happened on the way to the break, after Joao was not able to take advantage of a penalty.

Álvaro outwitted his friend and former captain

Bonucci

and ran in search of the Juventus goal, dodged

Bremer

and ended up drawing a double that he celebrated without excesses.

Some former partner whispered things in his ear on the way to the locker room.

The central Witsel

It was a dream hour that Morata crowned with that slicked-back fringe.

A direct free kick from

Lemar

caressed him, apparently, with a lock of hair to nurture Atlético's embarrassing win in Turin.

With another sign that

Witsel

, again as a center back, can perform in any position.

With

Saúl

, again a starter, performing on that left flank from which he wanted to escape last summer.

With

Matheus Cunha

, on the buzzer, completing a resounding thrashing in Juve's very own engine room.

With a lot of good news, one week before the official premiere in Getafe.

Atlético is well oiled.

From the bench, after the classic summer barrage of changes, Morata watched as his team closed an impeccable preparation by crushing Juventus as if nothing had happened.

Something unthinkable in other times.

There have been 12 goals for and only one against in the four preparation games played.

And four of them, a third of the red and white production, have carried the Morata seal.

Perhaps that exhibition will change the fate of the battering ram, or perhaps it is already written.

In Turin, the esoteric capital of magic, Álvaro, strong on his legs and, above all, on his head, was happy again.

And, right now, his happiness is also that of Atlético.

Although the market, as Cholo often repeats, is unpredictable.

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