- Spain captain Morata had threatened to quit at the conclusion of Euro 2024
- Morata has faced further criticism in Spanish media ahead of their semi-final
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Alvaro Morata's wife Alice Campello has blasted Spanish media after her husband was branded as 'an embarrassment' with a 'persecution syndrome' ahead of the country's Euro 2024 semi-final with France.
Morata will lead his nation out in the last four on Tuesday in Munich, but provoked a storm by suggesting he will quit international football after the tournament.
The 31-year-old Atletico Madrid forward admitted it would be 'easiest' for him to move abroad because of poor treatment he has received and laid bare the effect on his family, including his wife and four young children.
Campello has now slammed coverage of Morata's comments by El Confidencial, with the newspaper publishing an article with the headline 'Morata, a captain who embarrasses Spain and not only because of his poor form at the Euros.'
The article had accused Morata of being a 'crybaby', accusing him of 'immature and reprehensible behaviour' due to his comments falling ahead of the Euro 2024 showdown with France.
Alvaro Morata's wife Alice Campello has hit out at coverage of her husband by Spanish media
Morata had caused controversy with an interview on the eve of Spain's Euro 2024 semi-final
Campello slammed an article which claimed the Spain captain was an 'embarrassment'
Campello slammed the article as an attempt to 'generate more hatred towards a person'
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The article claimed Morata believed he was the subject of 'personal persecution', but highlighted that other stars such as Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham have also been criticised during the tournament.
'Who is Morata to speak ill of Spain? Not just once. He has done so on several occasions before and during the Euro Cup.
'This captain does not represent Spain. He embarrasses it with his statements, which, by repeating them so often, make it credible that in Spain he is being mistreated or there is a personal persecution.'
The 29-year-old suggested on Instagram that the the article would 'generate more hatred'.
'I hate to play the victim and stir up more controversy, but this doesn't seem normal to me, I'm sorry. Is this normal?' Campello wrote.
'The only thing I see as poor quality is being a journalist, having studied for it and writing a headline like this when Spain is one day away from playing a semi-final.
'It amazes me that instead of encouraging a player you dedicate yourselves to trying to sink him... How do you think a person can give the maximum for his country when he feels that no one believes in him? What do you want to achieve with the headline? Generate more hatred towards a person?
'Congratulations, everyone can write their opinion and everyone is free to express it and no one ever pleases everyone, but there are ways and ways of saying things, even more so when you are from a newspaper and you have so much power to condition young people. Do we really want this?'
A further post saw Campello stress families read the coverage and demanded more respect
Morata is set to lead Spain out in the Euro 2024 quarter-final in Munich on Tuesday night
Campello married Morata in Venice back in 2017 and the couple have four young children
The fashion blogger, who married Morata in a stunning ceremony in Venice in 2017 shares three sons and a daughter with the star.
She defended her husband in a second post, highlighting that players' families also read the comments published by media outlets and insisted that they deserve respect.
'These players have fathers, mothers, wives and children who read these gratuitous barbarities. This one from the newspaper is a simple example,' Campello added.
'We must think before speaking about how we would feel about what we are doing . I repeat: everyone is free to say what they think, but without offending.
'It's all a matter of taste, but we must respect if we want respect.'
Morata's explosive interview with El Mundo has caused uproar in his homeland having hit back at 'nonsense' criticism.
'It could be [my last tournament with Spain],' Morata told the outlet. 'It's a possibility that I don't want to talk about too much, but it's probable.'
The striker, who played for Real Madrid, Juventus and Chelsea before joining Atletico, initially on loan in 2019, has endured a tense relationship with Spanish supporters.
Morata has raised the prospect of moving on from Atletico Madrid this summer
Fashion blogger Campello has regularly supported her partner at matches
An article published by El Confidencial claimed Morata has a 'persecution syndrome'
Morata scored Spain's opening goal at Euro 2024 against Croatia but has not found the net since
He had been whistled during Spain's campaign at Euro 2020 and notably jeered throughout a friendly against Brazil at the Bernabeu in March.
'In Spain it's hard for me to be happy,' Morata said. 'Without doubt [I'm happier outside of Spain]. I've said it many times. Above all, because people respect me.
'In Spain there's no respect for anything or anyone.'
The 31-year-old will be available for selection against France after incorrect reports claimed he had been shown a yellow card during the 2-1 victory against Germany.
'The other day, people said I was crying [on the touchline] because I'd been given a yellow card,' a furious Morata added. 'What nonsense is that! I was crying because my country, with me as captain, had got into the semi-finals.
'I could never criticise someone who was crying because of that. But I'm criticised, when I'd cut my hand off to win the Euros.'
He went on to say: 'I try to enjoy this tournament, which could be my last games with the national team, and in the future, what will be, will be.
'Maybe one day they'll even miss me. Each day, the moment for leaving is closer, that's why I enjoy it, that's why I'll cry at whatever comes next, for good or bad.'
Morata has played in all five of Spain's matches at Euro 2024, but the forward has only scored once in Germany.
He opened the scoring in their 3-0 win over Croatia in Spain's opening group stage match at Euro 2024, but has yet to find the target since.
