Jose Mourinho Backs Chelsea’s Move to Sign Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho has backed Chelsea’s move to sign Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid, claiming that the Premier League champions are getting a ‘very good player’. Chelsea have been forced to switch targets after they were beaten by Manchester United in the race to sign Romelu Lukaku from Everton earlier this month. On Wednesday, Antonio Conte’s side agreed on a transfer fee with Madrid for Morata which will initially cost £58 million but could rise to £70m after add-ons.

The Spain international was close to joining up with Mourinho this summer and had agreed terms on a move to Old Trafford, but United were not willing to meet Madrid’s asking price.

When asked about Chelsea’s decision to sign Morata in his press conference on Thursday, Mourinho replied: ‘I’m not interested in what Chelsea does, really.

‘We needed a striker, we needed, with Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] in his best condition, one to give cover, to give options, him and Marcus [Rashford] was not enough, especially after Zlatan’s injury.

‘We got a big player [in Romeu Lukaku]. A player I can’t compare with what he was a few years ago because he worked with me a few months four or five years ago.

‘His development was very, very good. We think we have a player that is now a top player in Europe, has to prove it at the highest level, there’s always that point, he now has to do it for Manchester United, he has to do it in Champions League matches.

‘But I think he has amazing qualities.

‘I think Chelsea was obvious they were going to sign a striker especially after the situation with the manager [Conte] and Diego [Costa] was clear they were going to sign a striker.

‘They did it with Alvaro and Alvaro is a very good player for them.’

Credit: metro