Alvaro Morata opens up on battling depression months before Euro 2024 win as Spain & AC Milan forward reveals retirement fears at his lowest

Months before he went on to win Euro 2024 with Spain, the ex-Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid striker went through a battle with depression that was so strong he feared he would have to bring a premature end to his playing days.

The 31-year-old opted to leave Spain for the third time in his career by joining AC Milan, having previously enjoyed spells at Juventus and Chelsea outside of his time with the Madrid clubs. However, earlier this year he had fears that he would never play another game.

"I thought I wouldn’t be able to put my boots on and go out on the pitch again. I received a lot of help from people, like Diego Simeone, [Atletico captain] Koke and [president] Miguel Angel Gil, and my psychiatrist," he said on El Partidazo de Cope.

"What you see on TV or social media often is not real and is just an image because it is your job, but often I could not do simple things like lacing up my boots and there were times I went home early because I could not speak and my vision became blurry."

He added: "I didn’t know what was happening to me but it was very complicated and delicate. At that moment you realise that what you like most in the world is what you hate the most, it is complicated."

Morata went on to score one goal and set up another as captain of La Roja as they went on to claim the European title, adding to the two La Liga and Serie A crowns, among other trophies, he already has to his name.