The Spanish and Italian media have spent a few days explaining why Chelsea and Manchester City are the two English clubs most likely to sign Alvaro Morata, but Marca have decided to drag up an older claim on Wednesday.
Morata was stated to be closer to the clubs playing in blue, because Manchester United are supposed to be signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Arsenal are making attempts to secure Jamie Vardy. Therefore, it all made sense, but the story is now going in a different direction.
Marca say Jose Mourinho is clear what he wants, and it’s Alvaro Morata. The two were together at Real Madrid, and Mourinho played Morata then, which is enough for him to want Morata above all others. The Spanish newspaper say Mourinho used Morata on the left wing at Real Madrid, wanting to make the most of the player’s power and speed.
Mourinho is said to know any move for Morata will have to be big, and so Manchester United have ‘prepared more than €60m’ to sign the player. It’s stated Mourinho would still wants to complete the deal for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, signing both players this summer.
Scoring 9 goals and 9 assists last season in 42 games, around half as a substitute, wouldn’t make Morata look hugely prolific. At 23 years of age, he has plenty of time to improve and some of his performances for Juventus have been excellent.
Mourinho signing Morata would be another way for the manager to show he values young players, and signing both the Spaniard and Ibrahimovic would show some huge attacking intent.
On the other side of the coin, Manchester United have a pretty good young forward who can also play on the left… he’s called Anthony Martial. If Memphis Depay can get over his poor first season, and escape being sold, then the young Dutchman is another one in that bracket.
If both Morata and Ibrahimovic were bought then that would surely hinder the development of Marcus Rashford. If Morata and Martial were seen as the long term options for left and centre (either way around) then Rashford would then struggle, and that’s before a certain Swedish striker would waltz into his starting position, and dismissing Wayne Rooney’s future as a centre forward.
Marca’s claims as a package don’t make a great deal of sense, which could discredit the whole story, but what may be a different way of looking at is Morata, who is two-footed, playing on the right.
