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Alvaro Morata expected to take No 9 shirt at Chelsea
ALVARO MORATA is poised to take the No 9 shirt at Chelsea.
Striker Alvaro Morata arrives in London for Chelsea medical
Morata arrived in London today to put the finishing touches to his £70million move.
The Real Madrid striker was wanted by Manchester United before they turned to Romelu Lukaku.
But Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has now landed his man, subject to Morata completing a medical.
And looking at what shirt number Morata is likely to take at Stamford Bridge, one number stands out.
Number nine has been vacant since Radamel Falcao left the club last summer, having failed to hit the heights for Chelsea on loan.
The No 9 shirt has been cursed for the last 15 years, since Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink wore it with distinction between 2000 and 2004.
Alvaro Morata wears No 7 for Spain
Since then Mateja Kezman, Hernan Crespo, Khalid Boulahrouz, Steve Sidwell, Franco Di Santo and Fernando Torres have all struggled under its weight.
Chelsea have yet to announce what number Morata will take but given he will be their first-choice centre-forward this season the No 9 makes sense.
Morata wears No 7 for Spain, but N’Golo Kante currently has that in his possession in west London.
Morata had No 21 at Real Madrid, which could become available given Nemanja Matic is expected to leave Chelsea this summer.
But Chelsea fans are split over whether Morata should take their 'cursed' No 9 shirt...
If Morata gets that Chelsea No.9 shirt . Cursed number
— Osa (@_Soossaa) July 20, 2017
Morata will get the number 9 shirt and score 2 goals in 30 games. But it will be a brace in the cup against fleetwood. The 9 shirt is cursed
— George (@GeoSewell) July 20, 2017
What shirt number will Morata wear? Needs to man up and make the no.9 his own imo. Yer da this, yer da that.
— #9 (@ChelseaGunman) July 20, 2017
As long as Morata doesn't get the number 9 shirt I'll be fairly confident he'll bang. #CFC
— Guts (@MrMeeds) July 20, 2017
The number 9 shirt is waiting for you morata
— Paul Atkins (@PaulAtk68878320) July 19, 2017
Chelsea pls again do not hand Morata the number 9 shirt pls give him 21 his squad number at Real #CFC #MorataIsBlue
— Thea (@theaalyanna7) July 19, 2017
Just don't let Morata take the number 9 shirt ������
— Subastian (@subasCfc) July 19, 2017
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