Chelsea were linked with a move for Alvaro Morata for around a year before the striker eventually left Juventus for former club Real Madrid. Antonio Conte taking over at Chelsea only encouraged the rumours further, and Morata helpfully confirmed that an offer had been made.
In September, Morata spoke to SportBild about Chelsea’s offer: “Chelsea showed the most interest. Coach Conte had back then brought me to Juventus. This time it was a very good offer. I would have been the most expensive Spanish player of all time.”
Asked if Chelsea had bid €70m Morata said: “Yes, something thereabouts. Chelsea is a great club. I had many great offers. But Real said that they plan to play me, that was always my dream, and you cannot beat it.”
After offering €70m for a player it’s unlikely Chelsea and Conte will have dropped all their interest since, despite the signing of Michy Batshuayi from Marseille.
Earlier this month, Spanish newspaper Sport said a fee of €60m to €70m is ‘not a problem’ for Chelsea and so another attempt is quite possible.
That all fits in well with claims from Spain’s El Confidencial, who reported on Wednesday that Morata is fed up and increasingly minded to leave Real Madrid. He feels he’s never going to get prominence there, whatever happens, and yearns to be important for a club.
El Confidencial say the exit door is ‘closer than ever’ for Morata.
It’s worth noting that El Confidencial’s article was written before Real Madrid’s 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo and their elimination from the Copa del Rey. Morata’s mood in the match would be a good indication of how he feels, suggested the Spanish media outlet, but he didn’t even start, despite it being a cup match.
Coming on with ten minutes to go, there was little Morata could do.
This is all setting up nicely for Chelsea.
