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Antonio Conte says Alvaro Morata is 'the same level' as Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku

Faith | Antonio Conte is happy to finally work with Alvaro Morata (left): AFP/Getty Images
Faith | Antonio Conte is happy to finally work with Alvaro Morata (left): AFP/Getty Images

Antonio Conte believes Alvaro Morata has developed into one of the top forwards in the game since he first tried to buy him three years ago.

Conte played a major part in Morata joining Juventus from Real Madrid in 2014, but left before the transfer was complete to take charge of the Italy national team.

Chelsea's coach will now get the chance to work with the forward after Chelsea completed a deal with Real Madrid for an initial £58m, a club record, this week.

The Spain international still scored 20 goals last season despite being a fringe player and has winning Serie A, La Liga and the Champions League on his CV.

Conte said: "I think he made a good step (over the last three years) and now he is one of the best strikers in Europe.

"He has great potential, he can improve a lot and last season didn’t play a lot of games and scored 20 goals.

"I wanted him when I was at Juventus before I left, in that period he was very young but now with experience at Juventus and Real Madrid, he is ready to come to Chelsea and to play as striker for us."

Chelsea looked certain to buy Romelu Lukaku from Everton until Manchester United made a late move and agreed a price worth an initial £75m plus £15m in add-ons.

Conte had been talking to Lukaku for weeks over how he would fit into his system, but has no regrets about ending up with Morata instead.

He added: "It is not important to say if Lukaku or Morata were (my first choice)...both players were first choice for a great club like United or Chelsea.

"For me Lukaku and Morata are at the same level, first choice for a great club like Chelsea and United.

"You know very well the dynamic of the transfer market. It seemed that Morata would finish at Manchester United and Lukaku at Chelsea. Instead it happened the other way around.

"I like his (Morata's) technique. Physically he is a good player and for sure I need to work with him to ask him what I want from his job in the game. Morata is a good finisher, he showed this in the past."

Morata is going to take the place of rebel Diego Costa as Chelsea's main centre forward.

Conte revealed yesterday that Costa was aware he would be leaving Stamford Bridge this summer back in January, rather than last month, which is what the 28-year-old claimed.

Costa, who wants to return to Atletico Madrid, scored 52 goals for Chelsea in three seasons, which helped them win two titles.

But Conte suggests he won't be missed and said: "One player is not important. The most important thing is the team, the squad and it’s important now to be together. You can’t just lose it after one player."