Alvaro Morata explains Spain World Cup omission and backs Luis de la Fuente

Alvaro Morata says he fully understood Luis de la Fuente’s decision not to select him for Spain’s 2026 World Cup squad, despite admitting he desperately wanted to be part of the team that went on to win the tournament.

The 33-year-old striker was speaking in an interview with Spanish radio programme El Larguero after completing his move to Leganes, who will compete in Spain’s second tier this season.

Morata’s former Spain team-mates, many of whom began their international careers alongside him, lifted the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. He said he travelled to New York and felt part of their success rather than allowing his absence to overshadow the achievement.

“I really wanted to be at the World Cup. But I travelled to New York as if I was part of the victory, because I saw many of the players who started their international careers with me,” Morata said, as reported by ESPN.

“You can think about what might have happened if the year had been different, but there is no point in doing that.”

Morata, who has previously played for Real Madrid, Milan and Juventus, said he still believed he could have contributed to the squad. However, he accepted that his omission may have made the situation easier for De la Fuente to manage.

“We are all human and, in the end, there is always a part of you that hopes to be called up. The hope is always there,” he added.

“I think I could have contributed to the group and created a good dynamic, but things were easier for the coach in my absence. Imagine starting a World Cup with everyone asking what I was doing there. It was better to avoid that noise.”

Morata also praised the forwards who were chosen ahead of him, including Borja Iglesias, Mikel Oyarzabal and Ferran Torres.

“Borja Iglesias and the other forwards deserved to be there too,” he said. “I have always spoken about Mikel Oyarzabal’s level, just as I have about Ferran Torres. He scored the goal I would have wanted to score myself, and I was very happy for him.”

The former Spain captain also joked about the conversation in which De la Fuente told him he would not be included in the squad. Morata suggested the decision may have been communicated before Spain announced its preliminary list.

“I think it was even before the initial squad was announced,” he said. “I told him that I completely understood and wished them all the best in the world.”

Morata added that De la Fuente had failed to keep a promise made before the tournament.

“The only thing is that he did not keep his promise to me, because he said that if he won the tournament he would come out riding a horse with the trophy in his hand,” he said. “But he still has time to do it.”

The striker also defended his decision to join Leganes, saying he had turned down offers from clubs currently playing in the Champions League.

Morata said personal enjoyment had become more important to him than simply reaching a particular goals target, while promotion with Leganes could have a major impact on his life.

“It has been a long time since I enjoyed myself this much,” he said. “Scoring 20 or 30 goals would not have changed my life, but winning promotion to La Liga with this team might.”