Álvaro Morata is Xavi Hernández’s number one candidate to occupy the position of center forward at FC Barcelona this season. As AS has learned, the talks with the Atlético de Madrid player, on loan to Juventus, are well advanced, both with the player and his agent, Juanma López, although the operation with the two clubs involved has yet to be finalized.
Xavi himself is the one who gave the first impulse to the operation by calling Morata to find out his situation. The player acknowledged that he was not comfortable at his current club and that he would go to Barcelona with his eyes closed. The Blaugrana coach also promised him that It was not a one-off decision but rather a strategic one: his signing would go far beyond a six-month loan.
Xavi considers Morata (29 years old) as one of the best attackers in the world, also valuing their versatility, work capacity and experience. Hence, their incorporation is considered a priority to give a definitive boost to the team, both at the level of play and offensive efficiency.
From the player’s environment they recognize AS the interest of Barcelona and the possibility of him leaving Juventus in winter. Likewise, Allegri’s Juventus would already have Krystian Milik, from Olympique Marseille, and Gianluca Scamacca, from Sassuolo, in their sights to incorporate them immediately.
Morata, who would accept to lower his card in a notable way (he charges ten million euros clean) to adapt to the financial ‘fair play’ that chains Barcelona, would immediately join the Blaugrana club, once the agreement between the clubs was reached. In this sense, Barcelona has an asset in its favor: the purchase option of Antoine Griezmann that has to be executed this summer. Atlético would have to pay about 40 million, while it had reached an agreement with Juventus to collect 40 million at the end of the season if it wanted to stay in property with the Spanish. So it could end up being a balanced operation in every way.
Morata also has the advantage of an immediate adaptation to the Blaugrana dressing room, where he has several close friends, including captain Sergio Busquets. Others, like Pedri, Fati or Alba have a great relationship with the Atlético striker. Obviously, his arrival would imply the immediate departure of Luuk de Jong and possibly the transfer of Memphis Depay in the summer.
The Juventus attacker is still a guaranteed goal, although it is also true that he has received much criticism in recent years for his lack of effectiveness, especially in the Spanish team. Even so, Their numbers are incontestable: 471 games, 176 goals and 61 assists, distributed between Real Madrid (95 games and 31 goals), Juve (160 games and 54 goals), Chelsea (72 games and 24 goals) and Atlético de Madrid (61 games and 22 goals).
Of course, the Uruguayan forward of Manchester United, Edmison Cavani, is still a real option, in the event that Morata’s departure from Juventus ends up being thwarted.
