Alba: Morata would be very welcome

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The Barca full-back would be happy to see his struggling countryman make the move back to Spain

Alvaro Morata would be welcomed at Barcelona if the forward makes the move from Premier League club Chelsea, according to full-back Jordi Alba.

The 26-year-old has been linked with a surprise January move to the LaLiga giants and Serie A club AC Milan as he continues to struggle at Stamford Bridge.

Since making the move from Real Madrid in 2017, Morata has scored 16 goals in 45 Premier League matches for the Blues, with six of those strikes coming in his first six league games.

Alba, a Spain team-mate of Morata’s, said he would be happy to see the former Juventus striker return their country and join him at the Nou Camp.

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“Morata is a player that I appreciate a lot, he has been a top player for many years,” Alba said on Thursday.

“At the end, it’s the club’s [decision] if they want to sign him or not, as with any other player.

“If the rumours are true, he would be very welcome, as all the new players [are].”

Morata would likely only be allowed to leave Chelsea in the transfer window upcoming if coach Maurizio Sarri can source a replacement – with Olivier Giroud the only other senior striker in the squad.

Belgian attacker Michy Batshuayi is one player who could fill the void, with his loan club Valencia reportedly keen to send him

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