Why Morata’s Italian job made him the perfect fit for Chelsea

Striker showed at Juventus he can handle the pressure of big stage. By Tom Collomosse and Goncalo Lopes

CARDIFF, June 3. In the hours before the start of the Champions League Final, the players of Juventus and Real Madrid stroll about the playing surface in small groups, preparing themselves for the challenge ahead.

Alvaro Morata makes a beeline for a cluster of men in Juventus blazers. Two years before, he was their team-mate, scoring in a 3-1 defeat by Barcelona in the Final. Morata chats to them before he and Leonardo Bonucci embrace.

This may appear a routine exchange between former colleagues but it goes right to the heart of Chelsea’s decision to pay £70million — which includes add-ons — for Morata. It is not easy for a young forward to earn the respect of Italian defenders, and Bonucci is one of the best of his generation.

Yet during two seasons at Juventus, Morata did precisely that. Bonucci would not have hugged Morata so warmly had the Spaniard failed to make an impact in Turin. But Morata delivered at Juve. Even though Antonio Conte, the coach who wanted him, had resigned and was replaced by a very different animal in Massimiliano Allegri, Morata delivered. Despite the new league, the new country and culture, Morata delivered. If he can cope with the spotlight at Juventus — aged just 21 when he joined — he can surely do so as a 24-year-old at Chelsea.

Bonucci was so impressed by what Morata achieved at Juventus that he urged the hierarchy to try to buy him permanently last summer. Bonucci has left Juventus this summer to join AC Milan. Milan also targeted Morata, whose fiancée, Alice Campello, is from Venice, before Chelsea moved for him. It was reported that when he knew he would move to Milan, Bonucci made a late phone call to Morata to try to persuade him to change his mind.

It is still a high fee, especially for a player who has struggled to be first choice at Real Madrid. His injury record is a slight concern, too:oo: Morata suffered muscular problemsms at Juven-Juventus and started only 11 leagueue games in his first season, 16 in his second. He still scored 22 goals for Juventus.uventus. At Madrid, Morata fought with Karim Benzema to be the first choice of coach Zinedine Zidane. Benzemaenzema generally won the duel — even though Morata ended the cam-campaign with 20 goals, one moremore than the Frenchman.

Benzema was often preferredrred because he dovetailed bettertter with Cristiano Ronaldo. Ron-Ronaldo would start in a wide posi-position but would usually movemove inside, where he could be most prolific as a goalscorer. Ben-nzema has played with Ronaldo for many seasons and understands his movements perfectly, whereass

Morata, five years younger,r, never quite developed the same rapport.apport. At Chelsea, though, there will be no such conflicts. Morata will be the main man.

Tactically, Morata should adapt well to Conte’s demands. He hass the ability to run with the ball at pace,e, allowing