Alvaro Morata reveals that he was tapped up by Chelsea boss Antonio Conte 6 months before £70m deal
In an interview with Italy’s premier sports periodical La Gazzetta dello Sport, Morata explained the temptations of a move to Stamford Bridge – the coach Conte being one, and the presence of a Spanish group in the dressing room another.
But most interestingly he revealed that the move had its roots last spring, when the initial moves for the forward were apparently made – albeit informally.
“I came here because there was a coach like Antonio Conte… we started talking about my eventual transfer last spring.”
Morata also slammed Madrid’s attitude towards him following his return and felt he was practically forced to restart his career.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League trip to Roma on Tuesday, he told La Gazzetta dello Sport : “There were contractual agreements to respect. The disappointment was huge: I went right back to the start.
“They treated me like the kid I was before the two seasons in Italy.
“I arrived [in Italy] feeling like a boy and I returned feeling like a true player. I should never have left Italy and Juve.
“I really miss Italy. My wife would like to live in Spain; I’d like to live in Italy.”
