Alvaro Morata comes on and gets ejected; then he loses his cool

Alvaro Morata’s slump continues. After leaving Como last summer, he transferred to Leganes in Spain’s Segunda División, where he just can’t seem to find his rhythm or get his career back on track. The former Milan and Juventus forward has yet to make an impact with goals or assists this season, and his last match against Córdoba was one to forget entirely.

After coming on just past the hour mark—having initially been left on the bench by his coach—Morata was immediately booked by the referee following an altercation with Isma Ruiz in the middle of the field. Visibly on edge, he vehemently contested a refereeing decision in the closing minutes of the match and was immediately sent off.

The former captain of the Spanish national team then tried to shake the referee’s hand ironically, before storming off toward the locker room, ranting at the linesman and the fourth official—so much so that his teammates had to intervene to try to pull him away.

Leganés, defeated 1-0 at home by Córdoba, now sits in 17th place in the standings, very close to the relegation zone. Morata risks receiving additional match suspensions following his outburst as he left the field.