Spanish striker Álvaro Morata leveled sharp criticism at his former club, Galatasaray, accusing the Turkish giants of failing to honor key commitments and demonstrating a “blatant lack of respect.”
The parting words, delivered via social media as Morata’s transfer to Italian side Como became official, mark a startling end to a tumultuous six-month loan spell.
Morata officially joined Como after AC Milan terminated his loan with Galatasaray, paying €5 million to facilitate the early exit. The deal includes a total operation cost of around €10 million, combining loan and mandatory purchase fee components, and a three-year contract runs until June 2029.
This move paves the way for a reunion with Cesc Fàbregas, Morata’s former teammate and now head coach at Como.
However, it was the striker’s farewell message that captured widespread attention and set social media alight.
“Dear Gala fans and the people of Turkey,” Morata began, “I want to sincerely thank you for the affection, warmth, and support you have shown me. You made me feel welcome from the very first day, and your support has been among the most extraordinary I have ever experienced in my career.”
Yet, the tone shifted markedly as he turned his attention to the club’s treatment of him. “Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about my experience with the club. There were moments when the given word and the respect for fundamental values were not upheld,” he wrote, adding pointedly that commitments were not honored until the very end.
The striker revealed he had to relinquish part of his salary and other contractual rights that he had earned: “Failing to recognize and compensate what has been earned is, to me, unacceptable and contrary to the values of fairness and professionalism I believe in.” Morata emphasized that such matters are rarely broached openly, but felt compelled to “give the fans the real explanation of what happened.” He concluded by expressing gratitude to the fans, the city of Istanbul, the coaching staff, and teammates, despite his disappointment.
Morata’s loan had begun smoothly enough. In early February, he had landed in Istanbul to great fanfare and expressed excitement about joining the club. He praised the vibrant supporters of Galatasaray and vowed to fight for honors in league, cup, and European competitions.
His initial period featured a scoring debut in the Turkish Cup, followed by his first league goal coming in controversial fashion via a penalty that triggered protests from the opposing team, Adana Demirspor, who ultimately abandoned the match.
On the field he had bright moments, including an impressive performance in late April where he came off the bench to assist and score twice in a resounding 5–1 victory.