By: Lukonde Jr. Davies (Twitter: @lukonde_jr)
In its formative days, the summer transfer window did look like a Chinese fire drill for the fans; City’s early assault on the market and the thought of the club repeating the same attitude/posture that has ensured every title winning campaign got to the hearts of many fans. The supposed ‘1st July’ cipher didn’t help either. In fact, the signing on that much raved about date was a free agent from our rivals, Manchester City, Willy Caballero.
After missing out on Romelu Lukaku, the club has expedited their transfer dealings with German defender Antonio Rudiger, and a standout in last season’s Monaco’s odyssey in Champions’ League and French Ligue 1, Tiemoue Bakayoko, both added to the roster. Latest in line to add to the new arrivals is Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata. The move is expected to smash the club record fee paid to Liverpool for Fernando Torres in January 2011 thanks partly to the inflated market and lack of options after United gazumped us to the Lukaku deal. So, have we got the best man?
Best man for the job or a Conte frontier move? This should be the main question about this transfer.
There is no doubt whatsoever that Morata’s bromance with Conte is one that borders on mutual admiration, and the Italian’s belief in the talents of a player who he once signed without coaching him. In the past, and just recently after Madrid and Chelsea agreed terms for the striker, the Spaniard, 24, did allude to the confidence that Conte has in him and the length at which the club under Conte’s reign have gone to chase for his signature. As far back as February, the Spaniard did predict that he would play for Conte sooner or later.
Solely on that account, the Zeitgeist is that finally, the Italian has gotten his man after the club flirted with the idea of bringing him to the club last summer. And a sign of relief for some of the Chelsea votaries who thought the deal was going to slip through especially after United; Chelsea’s fate-mate this summer received some ludicrous demands from Madrid when they tried alluring the 24 year old.
What does he bring to the club?
In Morata’s rollercoaster career where he has already played for two of best performing European teams, he’s not exalted himself as a talisman or the fulcrum of a team in that time. His best goal return up to now has been the 15 goals last season that aw him finish as Madrid’s second top-scorer behind Ronaldo in a season where Morata was sparingly used.
But its Morata’s other side of the game that should enthral the fans more. Unlike Diego, Morata is the technical striker the club has been looking for to complement the technicians behind him and take the club to the next level. Yes his goals have not come with the same volume as the leading strikers or forwards, but if last season is to go by, we are getting a player who’s only improved with time and more likely to improve further.
Thumbnail image courtesy of: The Metro
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