Morata eyeing Blues debut

ALVARO MORATA is set to join his new Chelsea teammates on their pre-season tour next week. Morata was in London yesterday to undergo a medical and complete his record £67million move from Real Madrid. The Spain striker is then expected to join up with Chelsea in Singapore, after getting permission to leave Real’s own tour. The 24-year-old could make his debut against Bayern Munich next Wednesday and the Blues face Inter Milan three days later.

Morata (left, with his wife, Alice Campello) has made it clear it was manager Antonio Conte who really persuaded him to join Chelsea.

He said: “I’m going to the team managed by the coach who has placed the most faith in me and that’s great for me. I’m very happy.

“It was clear the goal was to leave, it’s been a fairly strange summer and, until I pass the medical examination, I’m not going to be calm.”

Former Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka worked with Alvaro while an assistant to Jose Mourinho at Real.

He said: “He is perfect for the league – he is strong, powerful, good with the ball, good with the ball in the air.

“And the most important thing is that he wants to improve every single day.”