Chelsea News: Alvaro Morata suggests he talked to Manchester United AFTER Blues

Chelsea signed Morata from Real Madrid for a fee of £70million, just 12 months after the striker had returned to the Bernabeu from Juventus.

However, the Spain international very nearly ended up moving to Manchester United instead.

Express Sport understands Morata and United were in constant contact over the summer, with Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho determined to secure a reunion with the player who he managed at Real Madrid.

But Morata’s latest comments appear to suggest Chelsea were the club who first made a move, and he only started talking to United after Antonio Conte’s side had made their interest known.

"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."

The 25-year-old also opened on his decision to join Chelsea, with Conte’s pulling power key.

"I’m in debt with Conte," he added. 

"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 has scored seven goals from his first 11 games for Chelsea.

And he will be aiming to build on that tally when the Blues face Roma in the Champions League tomorrow (7.45pm).