Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata has told his former Real Madrid teammates he isn't surprised to see them struggling this season.

Morata remains in contact with many of his ex-teammates through Whatsapp.

And Diario Gol says while not gloating, Morata has admitted he did expect Real to struggle this term under coach Zinedine Zidane. He left Madrid in August warning president Florentino Perez that he needed to intervene otherwise Zidane's management would be found out this season.

Morata primarily left because of Zidane's insistence on playing favourites, with Karim Benzema always favoured in selection ahead of him. And things haven't changed this term, with it even emerging this week that Zidane blocked a deal for Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga last month as he didn't want to upset Keylor Navas.

Morata has taken no pleasure in seeing Real's demise, but has reminded his old pals that he did warn Perez of Zidane's management before leaving for London at the start of the season.