Spain striker Alvaro Morata has revealed that he has received death threats and messages saying his "children should die" following his performances at the 2020 UEFA European Championship.
The 28-year-old has endured a difficult Euro 2020 campaign so far, with the forward seemingly bearing the brunt of the criticism aimed at Luis Enrique's squad.
Morata took a lot of the blame for Spain's 0-0 stalemate with Sweden in their Euro opener, and those jeers continued after their second game, a 1-1 draw with Poland, despite him scoring.
He then missed a penalty in La Furia Roja's 5-0 win over Slovakia in their final Group E match, leading to more frustration among supporters and more calls for him to be replaced in the starting line-up.
Morata, whose loan deal at Juventus was recently extended for another season, has since opened up about the threatening messages he and his family have received over the past two weeks.
"Maybe I have not done my job as I should. I understand that I am criticised because I have not scored a goal, but I wish people would put themselves in the place of what it is like to receive threats, to be told that your children should die," he told El Partidazo de Cope.
"Every time I get to the dressing room, my phone goes somewhere else. What bothers me is that they tell my wife, that they tell my children. They tell them everything.
"I didn't sleep at all these past few days, because of the adrenaline. I'm very happy, but it bothers me not to do my job well. The fans whistled at me before warming up, but I'm happy to take the penalty (against Slovakia) and have missed it."
Speaking after Spain's second game, Morata caused a stir when he said that "in Spain, giving an opinion is free", and later explained what he meant by those words.
"I said it with anger for having drawn in a European Championship game. I'm not going to get cool in front of all of Spain. I wish people would put themselves in the other place," he added.
"People whistle because it is what they hear, there are many people who encourage that.
"I give everything. They do not give me the same stick as the others. Everything I say is interpreted in one way or another. I have two options, or shut up or come here to explain.
"If I have to be aware of people, instead of doing my job, they will only harm me. That is what I wanted to say. It is exaggerated a lot."
