Alvaro Morata is paying the price for leaving Real Madrid, according to Bernabeu legend Michel.
Chelsea made Morata their club record signing when they paid £53million to secure his signature last summer but, after an impressive start, the 25-year-old has struggled to make the grade.
Morata scored just 11 Premier League goals all season and after the arrival of Olivier Giroud in January was often forced to play second fiddle, including in an FA Cup Final where he only managed a few minutes as a substitute.
Most frustratingly of all Morata was left out of the Spain squad for the World Cup, a matter which Michel, a six-time champion with Real Madrid, puts down to his decision to depart the Champions League finalists in the first place.
"I don't know why he left, if it was because he wanted to play more, if it was because he wanted a better contract and because he wanted to play in the English league,” he told Marca.
“At the end of the day he is in a similar situation as to when he was at Real Madrid, he will know personally why he took the decision.
“I'm one of those who think that if you're at Real Madrid the best thing is to not leave but I don't know what his thinking is."
Michel added: "He's playing less at Chelsea, Giroud is playing more.
"The most informed one on this is the coach and he knows exactly why he took one decision of another. He's a good player but any of them are too.”
