Alvaro Morata is familiar with Italian football, has extensive experience and is suitable for the tactical system of new coach Paulo Fonseca.
The striker who just won the EURO 2024 championship has agreed to sign a 4-year contract with Milan. After Olivier Giroud left San Siro and Joshua Zirkzee joined MU, Milan’s acquisition of the Spain captain was a significant victory in the transfer market.
First of all, Morata is no stranger to Italian football. The 31-year-old striker played for Juventus in two periods, 2014-2016 and 2020-2022. In total, Morata scored 35 goals in 130 matches in Serie A, not a bad achievement. That means Milan’s rookie will not take time to integrate into Italy’s highest division.
Importantly, Morata is a fitting piece in coach Paulo Fonseca’s 4-2-3-1 scheme. The former Lille coach wants a strong striker who moves widely and has a variety of shots.
Morata is that type of striker, or the best one that Milan can approach. The Spanish player is not too strong technically but plays aggressively, actively moves, competes well and is very good at attracting the opponent’s defenders.
With Morata, Milan has flexibility in attack. They will have a “target striker” to help surrounding satellites like Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic have more opportunities to reach the opponent’s goal.
At EURO 2024, Morata only scored 1 goal but played an important role in the Spanish attack. Morata’s dynamism, ability to pressure and smart movement have opened up many opportunities for Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams or Dani Olmo.
Fonseca can find similarities in Morata with Jonathan David, his favorite striker at Lille. David has a mobile and skillful playing style, does not score too many goals but knows how to create and open up space for teammates.
It should be mentioned that Morata is still at the peak of his career. Last season at Atletico Madrid, this player scored 21 goals, a career record for Morata.
Fonseca has a very clear opinion that a striker must know how to “contribute a lot to the team”. That is Morata’s familiar way of playing, based on diligence, persistence, connection with teammates and rarely being selfish in front of the opponent’s goal.
With Morata, Milan will not have a true assassin but an experienced striker who is willing to sacrifice for the team.
