Chelsea forward Alvaro Morata has been a revelation so far at Stamford Bridge and already looks like one of the deadliest strikers in the league.

The Spaniard looked almost certain to join Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United though, before signing for the Blues for a fee of around £70m.

It was believed that United failed with three bids for Morata before turning their attention to Everton’s Romelu Lukaku, and the player himself has hinted that he only wanted to join Chelsea if he was to leave Madrid.

“I came here because there was a coach like Antonio Conte,” Morata told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“We started talking about my eventual transfer last spring and I finally came to London.

“I’m in debt with Conte..

“He had taken me for Juve and then left for Italy. When I knew he wanted me, I didn’t think twice.

“There were a number of favourable situations. The first was the coach: I knew Conte and I had no trouble finding myself in his football ideas.

“The second is the environment: I was very well received by my companions. The presence of a Spanish enclave, with Azplicueta, Alonso, Fabregas and Pedro, made things simpler.

“The third is my wife Alice Campello: she followed me to London.”

Morata’s Chelsea career has got off to a flying start, and his latest comments once again reiterate the fact that he chose Stamford Bridge over Old Trafford – despite the strong rumours that suggest he wanted to join United initially.