Alvaro Morata had made no secret of his eventual desire to play in the Premier League, so when it became clear that his future lay away from Real Madrid — homegrown prospect leaves for playing time elsewhere, sure sounds like a familiar refrain — he was ready to jump at the opportunity. It looked like he may be going to Manchester United, but as it turned it, he’s come to Chelsea instead where he will get to finally work together with Antonio Conte, just as he prognosticated back in April.
“I know Antonio wanted me in the past and I really want to work with Antonio, and finally destiny put us together. I can’t wait to play for him and for Chelsea and to win together. It was disappointing in 2014 when he went to Italy, but I played well and had a good year at Juventus, but I really want to work with this coach and finally I can.”
“I know his work, the staff. I know it is a lot of tactics and I really like this game and I know how to play with this system.”
Like many players of his generation, Morata has been well aware of the Premier League and specifically Chelsea’s exploits on the domestic and continental stage and he’s hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of the biggest names in world football in the last decade or so.
“When I was little I watched with my dad and it is incredible, a lot of goals and fast matches and I really want to play here. When I was little I saw Didier Drogba, Andriy Shevchencko, Fernando Torres and thought probably in a few years I will take this place, and now it is the dream to take the Chelsea number 9 shirt. I can’t wait to play at Stamford Bridge and in the Premier League.”
-Alvaro Morata; source: Chelsea FC
Morata’s first interview may not rise much above cliche and all the usual answers one expects in the context of a first interview at a club in a foreign language, but it’s still nice to hear him talk about many of the values he shares with Conte — hard work, determination, winning attitude — which will hopefully enable a long and successful career at Chelsea for the 24-year-old.