What does Alvaro Morata’s return means for Madrid?

NICE, FRANCE - JUNE 17: Alvaro Morata of Spain celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group D match between Spain and Turkey at Allianz Riviera Stadium on June 17, 2016 in Nice, France. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
NICE, FRANCE - JUNE 17: Alvaro Morata of Spain celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group D match between Spain and Turkey at Allianz Riviera Stadium on June 17, 2016 in Nice, France. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Is Alvaro Morata ready to lead Real Madrid’s attack after a two-year stint with Juventus?

After a two-year loan at Juventus, Real Madrid exercised a buy-back clause in the Spain international’s contract, re-signing with the Los Blancos for £25 million.

Zinedine Zidane has been quoted saying he is “pleased” to have Morata back with Madrid, following reports that Real will sell the striker upon his arrival for a hefty price, turning down €80 million. Arsenal, Juventus and Chelsea were all keen on signing the 23-year-old, goal.com revealed.

“He is another member of this team. He’s back and I’m happy to have him,” Zidane told reporters.

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“He is an academy product, who knows what Real Madrid is and truthfully we are, and me above all, happy to have him with us. Later we’ll see.

“We have a large squad and all the players will be important. Alvaro will be one more of the team,” per sportsmole.co.uk.

Although pre-season is for young players to excel, Morata, will be the player to watch as Madrid gets underway. Morata will look to oust Karim Benzema, the club’s first choice striker, for a spot in the starting XI and also have significant amount of impact on the defending UEFA Champions League winners.

With the Frenchman not participating in the Euro 2016, he will be ready to battle Morata for the center forward position in the Madrid’s attack that is flanked by Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

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Benzema netted 28 goals in all competitions and had an amazing strike rate goal every 93 minutes. His movements off the ball is what makes him unstoppable in the Madrid’s attack known as BBC. The France international is always finding open spaces and laying the ball off for Ronaldo and Bale.

As for Morata, connecting with Bale and Ronaldo will be the key to gaining more playing time under Zidane. He must depend on his work through the channels and also finding spaces in the middle for his team-mates to utilize.

Morata has to show Madrid this pre-season that he’s ready to share the goal scoring load with Benzema, who missed much of the last third of the campaign because of his fitness. He has to show Zidane and the rest of the squad that things have changed from two-years-ago, and he’s finally ready to lead the attack.