Alvaro Morata’s transfer to Manchester United looked like a certainty a few weeks ago, with the player keen to be reunited with Jose Mourinho after a lack of playing time at Real Madrid.

The Spanish club believed that Morata was Mourinho’s prime target and so were unwilling to negotiate their overinflated asking price. Given that he wasn’t a first time player for them, it made sense to lower their asking price of £70m+, but they refused to do so, believing United were desperate.

Little did they know that United also had their eye on Romelu Lukaku, a striker who, unlike Morata, has proven himself in the Premier League. Madrid are now left with a player who is surplus to requirements who they could have made a decent profit on, but their greed got in the way.

It’s a question for Florentino [Perez, Real President]. What I said today is what I say today. Clubs put price tags on players. He belongs to Madrid. Madrid has decided and we have not come to an agreement. It’s simple. It’s a shame.

He’s a player who made it to the first team with me [at Real]. We have a special liking for him, he’s someone special. I enjoyed watching his evolution at Juventus and Madrid. It’s like that, but I don’t think he can end with us.

Ander Herrera, who has played with Morata for Spain, has also voiced his disappointment at the deal falling threw.

“Of course I wanted to have Morata as a teammate, he was very close because the two clubs negotiated,” he continued. “Too bad he is not with us but I wish him well.”