Morata's statements about Mourinho and the heated rivalry between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe

Álvaro Morata, the Spanish striker who joined Galatasaray during the winter transfer window, spoke about José Mourinho, the head coach of Fenerbahçe, and his own experience in Turkey.

Morata's words about Mourinho

Morata, who appeared on a television program in Spain, talked about his relationship with Mourinho and said:

"I have great respect and affection for Mourinho because he was the first to give me a chance to play. But maybe we should wait until we leave Turkey to talk more about him! Also, I need to show you the video of the end of the last derby. The rivalry here is extremely intense. The rivalry between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe is hotter and bigger than the rivalry between Real Madrid and Atlético or Barcelona. I’ve never seen anything like it. A foreign referee came to officiate the match, and there were more than 30,000 police officers in the stadium. It was truly unbelievable."

Transfer to Galatasaray and experience in Turkey

Morata added: "I had the opportunity to have a family experience in the biggest club in Turkey, and for that reason, I chose Galatasaray. This transfer is not permanent, and my contract runs until next January. If I need to stay, I have no problem with that. I am happy and have adapted well, but I still have a contract with Milan."

Turkey and its people from Morata's perspective

Morata spoke about Turkey's culture and said:

"Turkey and Galatasaray are amazing, they have a diverse culture and offer you a lot. We often go to Antalya with the team, and when we have long away games, we spend a few days on the beach. It’s really an incredible experience. I am learning Turkish, taking some lessons to be able to communicate. I want to immerse myself in their culture, and I respect the people here. People in Turkey are very noble and respectful. Sometimes, if you go to a restaurant and support another team, they joke with you and say they won’t serve you food!"

Morata's goals with Galatasaray

This experienced striker continued:

"The truth is that Galatasaray fans view the team with a completely different emotion. It is truly impressive, and they live it on a completely different level. Right now, we have the chance to win the 25th championship, which means adding another star to the team's jersey, and this is very important for the fans. When we return, we have a cup match against Fenerbahçe, and I hope we can beat them and that I score two goals."