Alvaro Morata to fans: Leave my family out of your threats

Spain forward Alvaro Morata has told overzealous fans who have taking to threatening his family over his misses to let them be.

Morata  revealed that his family have received “threats and insults” from fans over his performances at Euro 2020.

The Juventus striker has endured a difficult start to the tournament and was whistled by a section of the home crowd at Seville’s La Cartuja stadium after missing a chance in Spain’s opening 0-0 draw with Sweden

He scored the only goal in a 1-1 draw with Poland, before missing another opportunity after strike partner Gerard Moreno’s penalty hit the post — and then failed to score with a spot kick himself in a 5-0 win over Slovakia on Wednesday.

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“I understand I get criticism for not scoring goals. I’m the first to know and accept it,” Morata told Cadena COPE on Thursday. “I wish people would put themselves in the position of seeing what it is to receiving threats and insults to your family, ‘I hope your children die,’ [this week] I had to put my phone away.

“[Memes] don’t bother me, but what annoys me is what my wife has to go through,” he added. “My kids go to Seville with their dad’s name on their shirts. Yes [they’ve had things said to them]. I understand criticism for not doing my job well. But there’s a limit.”

Spain will play Croatia on Monday in Copenhagen in the round of 16. Coach Luis Enrique has consistently defended Morata, pledging to stick with him. The 28-year-old has scored 20 goals for Spain in 43 appearances.