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Can Morata still join Barcelona? Agent makes final verdict

Alvaro Morata
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The former Real Madrid striker emerged as a target for Barca at the start of the January transfer window.

Alvaro Morata’s chances of joining Barcelona in January are ‘no longer doable’, according to Marco Branca, a member of the agency representing the striker.

At the beginning of the winter transfer market, Morata was heavily linked with Barcelona. Xavi Hernandez wanted to sign him. Phone calls between the Blaugrana manager and player allegedly took place, but nothing has materialized.

As Juventus had no desire to make his loan deal  from Atletico Madrid a permanent one, Morata still hopes for a Barca move. There are a few obstacles holding a deal back, though.

First, Juventus won’t agree to end the Spaniard’s loan agreement unless they can find a replacement – which they haven’t done so far. Barcelona will also need to find space in their salary cap to add a new player. While Atletico may refuse to sell or loan him out to a direct top-four rival in La Liga.

‘The road for Barcelona is no longer doable’

Now Branca, a Managing Director of the international agency ‘First’, has given a final verdict of Morata’s hopes of a winter move to Camp Nou.

“The road for Barcelona is no longer doable,” the former Roma and Inter Milan striker told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Alvaro feels well in Turin and we’ll see what will happen with Atletico Madrid in the summer. I am optimistic about his future in Black and White. Like [Karim] Benzema, he works a lot for the team and he wasn’t scoring many goals with Cristiano Ronaldo.”

The 29-year-old rejoined the Bianconeri on an initial two-year loan deal from Atletico Madrid in 2020. The agreement includes a €35 million buy clause for the end of the season.

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