As homecomings go, it could scarcely be bettered. Two years and two days since his last game for Atletico Madrid, Alvaro Morata was back in his native city, back in an Atletico jersey and at the home of Getafe, the club where he spent his apprenticeship.
He was at the top of his game. Fifteen minutes in, Morata arrowed in a cool left-footed drive for the first goal of Monday’s 3-0 win. Before the hour, a rising, angled Morata shot gave Atletico their second.
By the close of match day one of La Liga, the much-travelled Spain forward, 29, stood at the top of the scoring charts. Robert Lewandowski, the glamour arrival at Barcelona, had not marked his league debut with a goal. Nor was Karim Benzema, lodestar of champions Real Madrid, off the mark.
“We hope Morata carries on with us,” said Diego Simeone, the Ateltico head coach, after a satisfactory start to a campaign in which the target is to again upset the expected order and, as Atletico did in 2014 and 2021, snatch the title ahead of neighbours Real and big-spending Barca.
“I want to be here and I’m thrilled to be here,” confirmed Morata after his dream return.
Those remarks were a response to the player’s peculiar status as target and catalyst in this summer’s open and fluid transfer market.
Morata is an asset Atletico’s bosses could have, and still might, cash in on. He is accustomed to that. In the last eight summers, Morata has moved six times, a restless cycle that has yielded many medals – Liga and Champions League prizes with Real Madrid, Serie A wins with Juventus, an FA Cup at Chelsea – leaving a lasting impression he is always deemed a desirable option at ambitious clubs but dispensable once a coach sets his sights on a upgrade who looks more of a 20-goals-a-season guarantee than Morata.
He spent his last two seasons at Juventus, loaned there from Atletico when Simeone lured Luis Suarez to the club. Morata was sold by Chelsea a summer earlier when the Londoners bought Timo Werner and Kai Havertz. Last January, Morata was required to shift from the central striking position at Juve when they splashed out on Dusan Vlahovic.
But clubs tend to keep asking Morata back. There have been two spells at Real Madrid, who he first joined as a teenager from Getafe, two at Juventus and now a second stint at Atletico, who have been fielding calls from Juve since the two-year €10m-a-season loan deal ended in June.
The Italians wanted to keep him, but balked at a further €35m fee to make the deal permanent.
There was contact, too, with Manchester United, whose urgent search for a tried-and-tested goalscorer becomes ever more complicated by their position – bottom, after two defeats – in the Premier League table.
Morata’s advisers paid close attention to United’s situation, knowing of possible interest and also because Cristiano Ronaldo was being discussed as a potential signing among senior executives at Atletico, where there would be little room for both players on the same wage bill.
Resistance from Atletico fans to Ronaldo, a former Real Madrid icon, tempered the interest. Besides, Morata’s pre-season form – he scored a hat-trick in a friendly against Juve – made a strong case that the firepower already at the club is formidable.
Atletico Madrid 1 Manchester United 0 - player ratings
Suarez has left, but Morata, Joao Felix, Antoine Griezmann and Angel Correa make a strong quartet.
That’s without mentioning Matheus Cunha, the Brazil international, towards whom United’s attention turned at the weekend.
He cost Atletico a shade under €30m from Hertha Berlin less than 12 months ago and the club would only listen to bids of over €45m to let him move on so quickly. They take the view that, although he had limited opportunities in the starting XI in his first season in Spain – eight times in la Liga – the best of Cunha, 23, is yet to come.
He should develop into a sharper penalty-box operator than his goalscoring record – 18 in three seasons across Bundesliga and Liga – suggests.
On Monday night, Cunha came off the Atletico bench with seven minutes left as a replacement for the homecoming hero Morata.
The clutch of Atletico fans at Getafe applauded. Morata, backed by Spain national coach Luis Enrique to lead the line at the World Cup in November, has not always been warmly embraced by Atletico loyalists, partly because of his past at Real Madrid, but for supporters who regard an association with the city’s other giant as a stain there have been bigger issues to protest against during this transfer window.
During pre-season, Simeone heard, from fans in the stands, loud objections against the idea of Ronaldo, 37, and Real Madrid’s all-time record goalscorer, making a late-career stop-off at Atletico, where he could fulfil his determined wish to play in this season’s Champions League.
United failed to qualify, and, in their current predicament, can hardly be optimistic of doing so before Ronaldo enters his 40th year.
150 summer transfers - in pictures
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
Bawaal%20
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The Bloomberg Billionaire Index in full
1 Jeff Bezos $140 billion
2 Bill Gates $98.3 billion
3 Bernard Arnault $83.1 billion
4 Warren Buffett $83 billion
5 Amancio Ortega $67.9 billion
6 Mark Zuckerberg $67.3 billion
7 Larry Page $56.8 billion
8 Larry Ellison $56.1 billion
9 Sergey Brin $55.2 billion
10 Carlos Slim $55.2 billion
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
SPECS
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
'Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World’s Sole Superpower'
Michael Beckley, Cornell Press
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The%20specs
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
SPECS
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP
Group A
Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA
Group B
Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti
Group C
Belarus
UAE
Senegal
Russia
Group D
Brazil
Oman
Portugal
Nigeria
STAR%20WARS%20JEDI%3A%20SURVIVOR
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PROFILE OF STARZPLAY
Date started: 2014
Founders: Maaz Sheikh, Danny Bates
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment/Streaming Video On Demand
Number of employees: 125
Investors/Investment amount: $125 million. Major investors include Starz/Lionsgate, State Street, SEQ and Delta Partners
2024%20Dubai%20Marathon%20Results
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FULL%20FIGHT%20CARD
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