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Juventus forward Alvaro Morata celebrates after scoring during a Serie A soccer match against Chievo Verona, at the Bentegodi stadium in Verona, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016. (Filippo Venezia/ANSA via AP)
Juventus forward Alvaro Morata celebrates after scoring during a Serie A soccer match against Chievo Verona, at the Bentegodi stadium in Verona, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016. (Filippo Venezia/ANSA via AP)Filippo Venezia/Associated Press

Real Madrid Transfer News: Alvaro Morata, Sergio Aguero, Latest Rumours

Gianni VerschuerenFeb 22, 2016

Juventus director Beppe Marotta has admitted Alvaro Morata's future will be decided by Real Madrid, not the Bianconeri, while the latest rumours say Sergio Aguero hopes to finish his career with Manchester City.

Los Blancos sold Morata to Juventus in 2014 but maintain a buy-back clause that's set to activate this summer, and Marca (h/t Goal) recently claimed Los Blancos plan on using said clause, only to sell the striker on for a nice profit.

Speaking to Italian television show La Domenica Sportiva (h/t Gianluca Di Marzio's Jean-Luca Mascaro, via David Amoyal), Marotta said his club would be powerless to stop Los Blancos if they did: “Morata? We want to keep him but it is up to Real Madrid."

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Morata's case is a curious one, as the 23-year-old's future has looked murky for some time now. He seemed certain to turn down the opportunity to move back to his boyhood club at the end of last season, having become a key cog in Juventus' starting XI.

While he didn't celebrate either goal he scored against Los Blancos in the UEFA Champions League, a return seemed highly unlikely, with Karim Benzema having a firm hold on the starting position at the Santiago Bernabeu.

But since then, Morata has tumbled down the pecking order in Turin, with Mario Mandzukic taking his place as the preferred partner for Paulo Dybala. While Juventus still have great expectations for the Spain international, a return to his home country now looks far more likely.

Morata hasn't been in great form in 2015-16, but he flashed tremendous potential last season. Here's a look at some of his highlights:

Real's impending transfer ban also plays a role in the decision. As reported by Calciomercato's Nicola Balice, Los Blancos' buy-back clause can be triggered during the 2016 and 2017 summer transfer windows, and only then.

Per ESPN FC, Real have appealed the ban, which is now likely to come into effect after the summer of 2016. That gives the club a single window to decide whether or not to bring Morata back to the club―come 2017, their transfer ban will make it impossible to use the clause.

It's important to note Morata has a say in all of this, and Real can't simply activate the clause without the player's consent. He may be open to a return to Madrid, but it's hard to believe he would agree to any move if the club plans to sell him on immediately after.

He recently told Bild (h/t Football Italia) he's fully committed to Juventus:

"

In Madrid I didn’t have a clear head, there was no chance of finding space. I had a lot of offers, but Juventus came to my house and convinced me with a good offer.

As for the future, two months ago I signed a new five-year contract with Juventus, a one-year extension to the last one.

I feel great satisfaction and I’m motivated to do well in future. Leaving Real was my choice, because I was never given a chance.

"

Meanwhile, ESPN FC's Miguel Delaney reports Aguero is close to signing an extension with Manchester City, and the Argentina international hopes to stay with the club until the end of his career.

The Sun's Antony Kastrinakis previously reported the Argentina international was one of many targets Los Blancos would chase ahead of the aforementioned transfer ban, with Chelsea's Eden Hazard, Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski, Juventus' Paul Pogba and others also mentioned.

Aguero has struggled to stay healthy in the 2015-16 campaign, but when he's been able to play, he has been his usual, dominant self. Per Squawka Football, his numbers are nothing to scoff at:

Los Blancos are quite familiar with Aguero, who used to terrorise their defence during his days with Atletico Madrid, but a transfer doesn't seem likely. The 27-year-old has been with City since 2011 and is yet to give any indication he's open to a move, and City have the kind of financial firepower to turn down just about any offer.

Aguero is the team's top star and most prolific attacker, so unless a potential suitor would be willing to smash all kinds of transfer records, the Citizens likely won't even give transfer offers a second thought.  

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