Cardiff, June 3. In the hours before the start of the Champions League Final, the players of Juventus and Real Madrid stroll about the playing surface in small groups, preparing themselves for the challenge ahead.

Alvaro Morata makes a beeline for a cluster of men in Juventus blazers. Two years before, he was their team-mate, scoring in a 3-1 defeat by Barcelona in the Final. Morata chats to them before he and Leonardo Bonucci embrace.

This may appear a routine exchange between former colleagues but it goes right to the heart of Chelsea’s decision to pay £70million — which includes add-ons — for Morata. It is not easy for a young forward to earn the respect of Italian defenders, and Bonucci is one of the best of his generation.

Yet during two seasons at Juventus, Morata did precisely that. Bonucci would not have hugged Morata so warmly had the Spaniard failed to make an impact in Turin. But Morata delivered at Juve. Even though Antonio Conte, the coach who wanted him, had resigned and was replaced by a very different animal in Massimiliano Allegri, Morata delivered. Despite the new league, the new country and culture, Morata delivered. If he can cope with the spotlight at Juventus — aged just 21 when he joined — he can surely do so as a 24-year-old at Chelsea.

Bonucci was so impressed by what Morata achieved at Juventus that he urged the hierarchy to try to buy him permanently last summer. Bonucci has left Juventus this summer to join AC Milan. Milan also targeted Morata, whose fiancee, Alice Campello, is from Venice, before Chelsea moved for him. It was reported that when he knew he would move to Milan, Bonucci made a late phone call to Morata to try to persuade him to change his mind.

It is still a high fee, especially for a player who has struggled to be first choice at Real Madrid. His injury record is a slight concern, too: Morata suffered muscular problems at Juventus and started only 11 league games in his first season, 16 in his second. He still scored 27 goals for Juventus. At Madrid, Morata fought with Karim Benzema to be the first choice of coach Zinedine Zidane. Benzema generally won the duel — even though Morata ended the campaign with 20 goals, one more than the Frenchman.

Benzema was often preferred because he dovetailed better with Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo would start in a wide position but would usually move inside, where he could be most prolific as a goalscorer. Benzema has played with Ronaldo for many seasons and understands his movements perfectly, whereas Morata, five years younger, never quite developed the same rapport. At Chelsea, though, there will be no such conflicts. Morata will be the main man.

Ãlvaro Morata bids farewell to Real Madrid team-mates and staff

Tactically, Morata should adapt well to Conte’s demands. He has the ability to run with the ball at pace, allowing players such as Eden Hazard, Pedro Rodriguez and Victor Moses to move into the space he creates. One of his best performances for Juventus was in the 4-2 defeat at Bayern Munich early in 2016, which saw them eliminated from the Champions League. Counter-attacking in devastating fashion, Morata dominated the Bayern defence until he was bizarrely substituted in the second half.

He is more mobile than Diego Costa. Morata is also an unselfish player, happy to supply opportunities for others. He is excellent in the air, too — great news for Conte’s 3-4-3 system, which requires Moses and Marcos Alonso, the wing-backs, to set up attacks.

Even though he is able to operate outside the penalty area, Morata understands the need to occupy the central areas of the pitch. So when Chelsea need a man in the box, he will be there. He is also useful in defence, especially when facing set-pieces.

As well as Morata’s skill, Conte was also attracted to his attitude. Unlike Costa, Morata will rarely be in the headlines for arguing with colleagues or his behaviour at the training ground. Morata is an uncomplicated individual: he works hard and puts the team’s demands ahead of his own.

Nobody should expect Morata to be overawed, either. He grew up at Real Madrid, moved to Juve, then returned to Madrid. At two of the world’s greatest clubs, Morata handled the pressure.

He makes his mark in the biggest matches, too. In 2015, Morata scored in both legs of Juventus’ Champions League semi-final win over Madrid — even though Madrid were his parent club — and in the Final with Barcelona.