Alvaro Morata has revealed that he regrets leaving Atletico Madrid to join AC Milan in the summer, despite finding success with Galatasaray this season. 

Morata joined Atletico initially on loan from Chelsea in 2019-20 before making his move permanent the following season, but was sent immediately on loan to Juventus. 

The Spaniard returned to Madrid in 2022, and made 154 appearances across all competitions for the club during his two respective spells. 

Morata scored 58 goals and registered 14 assists for Atletico, only managing more goal involvements with Juventus (98 - 59 goals, 39 assists) during his entire career. 

And after leading Spain to the European Championships, a tournament where he scored just once, Morata returned to Serie A with Milan for the 2024-25 campaign. 

But after notching just six goals in 25 appearances in all competitions for the Rossoneri, Morata was sent on loan to Galatasaray, where he has rediscovered his form. 

Morata has spoken publicly in the past about his mental health challenges, revealing last year that he almost quit the national team after suffering depression and panic attacks.

"In the summer, I should have thought about things more," Morata told Cadena SER radio on Tuesday. "[I should have thought about] whether to leave Atletico or not.

"When things aren't right in certain parts of your life, you take the wrong decisions, not just in football.

"You can't change it. You have to move forward. We're very happy, I'm happy with my football, I'm happy with the national team.

"Next year if all goes well and [Galatasaray] win the league, we'll be in the Champions League. Turkey might seem a less competitive league, but the Champions League is the Champions League.

"[With hindsight] for sure I wouldn't have taken [the decision]... I didn't know how to see the reality. We were European champions. At Atletico there were more and more people who loved me, who understood me. But they are decisions you take in life."

Morata is in the Spain squad for this week's Nations League quarter-finals with the Netherlands and will be hoping to add to his 37 international goals. 

Should he score twice over the two legs, he will overtake Fernando Torres (38) as Spain's third-all-time leading scorer, with only Raul (44) and David Villa (59) netting more. 

He could have been closing in on second place much sooner after struggling in front of goal at Euro 2024, but said that he did have his club future on his mind heading into the tournament. 

Morata suggested he would be staying at the LaLiga club, before a change of heart saw him move to Milan.

"When you're in a difficult moment, things look dark, you don't see things clearly," Morata added.

"Even if you have people close to you, who tell you that you're wrong. Things happen fast, you have to take decisions. I was bothered by the issue [of my future] during the Euros, and the opportunity at Milan came up.

"You need to feel wanted and valued. But looking back, [coach] Cholo [Simeone] valued and wanted me too."

Spain play the Netherlands in Rotterdam on Thursday, before the return leg in Valencia on Sunday.