...but still faces a real fight with Conte
AS recently as two months ago Alvaro Morata spoke openly of his ‘debt’ to Antonio Conte and the certainty he would one day play under the Chelsea manager.
Twelve months ago he believed he was on his way to the Premier League - London his preference with Chelsea and Tottenham expressing the greatest interest.
Now Jose Mourinho - the man who handed Morata his debut at Real Madrid - is hoping to lure him to Old Trafford, with the promise of leading United’s title challenge.
Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward is hoping to secure a deal below Real’s asking price of around £68m.
Morata’s interest in the Premier League is clear.
But if Mourinho does succeed in making the 24-year-old a summer signing, he will have won a personal duel with Conte, who took the striker to Juventus, just before taking over as Italy coach.
In a revealing interview with the Guardian in April, Morata said: “I loved Italy, but if one day I have to leave, I’m sure it will be to the Premier League.
“Conte is the manager who most ‘bet’ on me, without even ever having had me in his team.
“I’m very conscious of that - he bet on me for Juventus, but left before I arrived.
“Then he wanted me at Chelsea come what may.
“He knows me better than I could imagine, I’m sure, and that’s important - it motivates you to work hard, train well.
“I feel indebted to him because he’s the coach that most trusted in me, most wanted me, who made me feel I could perform at the highest level.”