Real Madrid can think of Alvaro Morata but they should stick with Karim Benzema for now

Rafa Benitez reportedly wanted Morata in his squad during the time coaching Napoli, so this does add weight to the rumours of a quick return to Madrid, who have a buy-back option on the forward, writes Maryam Al Shamsi.

Alvaro Morata of Juventus. EPA/TATYANA ZENKOVICH

The final two rounds of the Uefa Champions League were an impressive period for Juventus forward Alvaro Morata.

The Spaniard scored in both legs of the semi-final against his former employers Real Madrid, who he had left to join the Serie A champions last summer for a fee of €20 million (Dh82.7m).

Morata then found the net in the final in Berlin earlier this month as Juventus lost 3-1 to Barcelona, but the 22 year old's stock has risen, despite his side missing out on winning the competition.

Spanish media outlets have subsequently reported that the new Madrid coach Rafael Benitez is interested in bringing back the Spaniard back to Madrid.

Benitez also reportedly wanted Morata in his squad during the time coaching Napoli, so this does add weight to the rumours of a quick return to Madrid, who have a buy-back option on the forward.

Read more:

Morata scored 16 goals in all competition as the Turin side claimed a league and cup double in Italy.

It is not hard to imagine where Morata would fit in with Benitez’s thoughts for Madrid if he does try to make a move for him.

Morata has the capability of speed and power to play counter-attack football, a system that has worked well for Benitez in the past.

Madrid already have Karim Benzema though, and the 27 year old, who has been at the club since 2009, scoring 22 goals in the campaign.

While not always a popular figure in his early days with Madrid, the Frenchman has gained the respect of the Bernabeu’s crowd, and he had a good 2014/15 campaign

Benzema knows how to prove good attacking chances for Cristiano Ronaldo, James Rodriquez, Gareth Bale, or even Isco, which have proved over the last two years of struggle domestically that he is pivotal and worth his position.

Real Madrid are always eager to bring new strikers, even though the formation of Benzema, Ronaldo, and Bale have been impressive in terms of goal scoring.

In Spanish football it is not as prominent to have a pure No 9 striker like the Premier League, and Madrid’s problems in 2014-15 were not down to a lack of goal power from Benzema, Ronaldo and Bale as a unit.

They work well together and Benzema deserves to remain in the side.

Morata still has a chance to get back to Madrid, but he still young and not entirely ready.

There is no harm for him staying at Juventus another year and seeing if he can improve his goalscoring numbers further and if he does then Madrid should strong think next summer about signing him back.

Follow us on Twitter at our new home at NatSportUAE