Diego Simeone hopes Alvaro Morata remains at Atletico Madrid and hailed his "extraordinary" conduct amid the striker's transfer links to Manchester United.
Morata, 29, returned to the Spanish capital this summer after his two-year loan spell at Juventus came to an end, but immediately there has been talk of another move away. Reports have suggested that the La Liga side are willing to let him move to the Premier League.
United are on the hunt for more firepower and, with the transfer window coming to a close on 1 September, time is running out to bolster Erik ten Hag's ranks. Morata was not on the Red Devils' radar several months ago, but has emerged as a target with Cristiano Ronaldo potentially leaving Old Trafford.
Simeone, who watched Morata score twice in Atletico's season-opening victory over Getafe on Monday, claims he wants to keep his player but accepts that, as manager, he cannot have total say on whether the forward stays or goes.
Discussing the Spain international, he said: “I am not the owner of the club, I am the coach. Everyone at the club hopes he continues. He is working very well, in an extraordinary way. I think that all footballers need to have confidence to do important things. He came back with great humility and wanting to work. He came back trying hard.”
Morata has scored 22 times for Atletico since moving from Chelsea in January 2019. His previous 18-month stint in England got mixed reviews after he was signed as Diego Costa's replacement by Antonio Conte. Morata scored six times in his opening six games, including a hat-trick at Stoke City, but his potency then fell away and he was eventually offloaded.
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Morata would give Ten Hag a much-needed alternative option in attack amid the uncertainty surrounding Ronaldo. The Portuguese superstar has been their main supply of goals, scoring 24 times last term, but he is looking for a way out. Atletico have been touted as a destination, although the club's fans have made it clear they do not want him at the Wanda Metropolitano.
If Ronaldo were to depart, it would leave Anthony Martial as the man tasked with leading the line, as he did throughout pre-season. The Frenchman has been hugely inconsistent throughout his seven years in Manchester, whilst the club also have the likes of Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho to turn to in attack.
Gary Neville has warned that letting Ronaldo leave could have major ramifications, saying on Sky Sports: ''I genuinely think if they [United] don't bring players in or if they bring poor players in and he leaves, I genuinely think they can finish in the bottom half of the table."
