Juventus confirm Real Madrid will re-sign Alvaro Morata amid Chelsea and Manchester United links

Juventus general director Giuseppe Marottahas confirmed one of football's worst-kept secrets, revealing that Real Madrid will activate the €30m (£23m, $34m) clause to re-sign Alvaro Morata. However, it remains uncertain as to whether Los Blancos will keep the Spaniard in Zinedine Zidane's ranks or sell him to a Premier League side for a profit, with Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal all reportedly interested in his services.

Real Madrid sold Morata to the Serie A outfit for €20m after the Spaniard saw his chances in La Liga hampered by the presence of numerous stars in Los Blancos' attack. However, Football Leaks later disclosed that Real Madrid have a €30m clause that can be activated between July 1 and July 15 in either 2016 or 2017 to bring him back to the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Juventus general director has now confirmed the news, although it is still uncertain if Morata will stay at Real Madrid or move somewhere else.

"Real Madrid will exercise their right to repurchase [Morata]," Marotta told Italian reporters, as quoted by TuttoSport. "We expect their offer in writing in the coming days, then we'll see, but the number of possibilities that remain are few, and we will try to replace him with an equally-good player."

Recent reports in Spain had claimed Real were preparing to sell the player on for a profit after repurchase, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea all understood to be in the mix.

The Gunners originally looked to be the main candidates to acquire the player, as Arsene Wenger previously tried to secure his signature back in 2014.

However, after Arsenal appeared to turn their attentions to Jamie Vardy, AS reported that Chelsea had become front-runners in the race due to the presence of incoming manager Antonio Conte. Conte signed the Spain international for Juventus in 2014, although he never coached him as the current Italy boss resigned from his post at La Vecchia Signora just days later.

Marca, meanwhile, later claimed that Jose Mourinho had joined the beauty contest, wanting to bring the Spaniard to Manchester United after being the manager who handed Morata his debut at Real Madrid during their time together in La Liga.

But following Morata's impressive start to the European Championship Cadena Cope and AS reported a new twist in the saga, saying that Real Madrid are now considering keeping Morata – as Jese Rodriguez is expected to move on loan to continue his development elsewhere.

Marca, meanwhile, claimed on 21 June that if Real Madrid finally decide to part ways with the coveted striker, any other side would need to pay €75m for his services.