Real Madrid to keep hold of Alvaro Morata

Real Madrid have decided against selling Alvaro Morata in the current transfer window. Chelsea and Arsenal are interested in the Spain international.

The European champions retained the services of Morata earlier this month after they activated the buy-back option placed in his Juventus contract in 2014.

Spanish source Marca says Los Blancos will keep hold of their graduate beyond the summer after they snubbed an opening £51m bid from the Blues for the player's signature.

It is added that the club's hierarchy want the 23-year-old to provide stiff competition to Karim Benzema for the centre-forward position next season.

Nevertheless, Morata is expected to have the final say on his future when he joins the club for pre-season training on July 15.

The striker last appeared for Los Blancos during their Champions League triumph over Atletico Madrid in 2014. He was recently part of the Spain setup that were eliminated by Italy in the round of 16 of the European championships.