Not bad for a player who was Juventus’ fourth option in the transfer market.
Signed on loan from
And when
After scoring the opening two goals in Juventus’ 4-1 win at Ferencvaros on Wednesday, Morata said, “I’ve got the motivation that every player needs. I feel wanted and desired and I’ve got everything I need here.”
But
Morata, however, was an appealing backup plan because he won two Serie A titles with
Perhaps that’s why Pirlo seemed to know that Morata could prosper in a traditional centre forward role supported by Ronaldo — as evidenced when Ronaldo set up Morata’s second goal against Ferencvaros.
”(Ronaldo) can play behind the two strikers, next to Morata like in this match, a bit behind him,” Pirlo said. “He moved well, and they liaised well when they needed to.”
Morata also had already teamed with Ronaldo at
Unlike what could have been the case with Suárez and Džeko, Morata seems more willing to adapt his game to Juventus’ other forwards and accept a reserve role when Ronaldo and Dybala regain their top fitness. He's used to it. He was often not a first-choice striker at
“I know they have their characteristics and I must make the most of their qualities to be in the right place for a goal or a pass,” Morata said. “I’m at the disposal of the team and don’t mind adapting to their characteristics with my movement.”
At 28, Morata also offers more prime years than the 33-year-old Suárez and the 34-year-old Džeko.
One more thing that Suárez, Džeko and even Milik couldn’t have had is a familiarity with
“I said when I came back here that I felt like a more complete player, and I matured as a person by going through the good and bad in my career,” Morata said.
The loan deal gives
In the meantime, Morata and
Like with Morata, though,
Also on Sunday, Atalanta hosts Inter Milan as all four of Italy’s
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