Romelu Lukaku’s shock move to Manchester United has seen Chelsea set their sights on Alvaro Morata of Real Madrid. Reportedly in the sights of Mourinho as well, before the Portuguese swooped in on the 24-year-old Belgian, the Real Madrid striker has been left in the lurch, awaiting a move to Old Trafford understood to be imminent. While the Mancunians can resume their interest in the Spaniard, Morata would be wary of placing himself in a similar situation like the one he finds himself in at Real Madrid, down the pecking order below the likes of Lukaku and Rashford.
Antonio Conte had signed the Spanish striker for Juventus before departing to take over the Italian national team the same summer. Although never having played for the Italian, Morata has expressed the desire to work for Conte sooner or later owing to a sense of gratitude for the current Chelsea Head Coach.
“Conte is the manager who most ‘bet’ on me, without even ever having had me in his team,” Morata says. “I’m very conscious of that: he bet on me for Juventus but left before I arrived; then he wanted me at Chelsea come what may. He knows me better than I could imagine, I’m sure, and that’s important: it motivates you to work hard, train well.
“I feel indebted to him because he’s the coach that most trusted in me, most wanted me, who made me feel I could perform at the highest level. And yet I’ve never had the fortune to actually work with him. I’m sure sooner or later I will. The future excites me, whether that’s Madrid or somewhere else. I still have to learn, improve. I can do a lot but I need to play more and for someone to really back me. Either I take off or I end up in a position of comfort, playing games occasionally. I’m no longer the youngest, I’m 24, it’s a big moment.”
All of 24 years old, the player went through dry spells juxtaposed between flashes of brilliance and fine goal-scoring displays. His contract situation with Real Madrid and Juventus was less than ideal, giving him no control over his destiny. He complains of the tussle between Madrid’s desire to re-sign him and Juventus’ reluctance of the same, affecting his performances while at Juventus.
He beats a sense of vulnerability, offering an explanation for his underwhelming performances for the Old Lady or Madrid owing to the contractual wrangle that he found himself in during his spell at the Turin side, and currently finding himself down the pecking order, behind Karim Benzema, Bale et al. Assured in the knowledge that Los Blancos are intent on adding further attacking reinforcements in the current window, the fact that his position at Real Madrid is getting untenable by the day, couldn’t be clearer to the player.
A move to Chelsea, who are currently striker-less, with Diego Costa set to join Atletico Madrid, could provide the 24-year-old with a way out. Add to that, the much-awaited reunion with Antonio Conte who is known to bring out the best from his players is perhaps just what the doctor would order in order for Morata to reach his potential.
Chelsea have reportedly made a move for the player lining up a £70m bid to secure the player’s services. It remains to be seen whether Real allow the player to leave for as much.
