London: Alvaro Morata has said Antonio Conte is the main reason he joined Chelsea.

Striker Morata arrived in London on Thursday to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms after Chelsea agreed an initial fee of £58 million (Dh276.7 million), which could rise to 70 million pounds (Dh334.9 million) after add-ons, with Real Madrid.

Morata had been strongly linked with Manchester United earlier in the transfer window but Jose Mourinho turned his attention to Romelu Lukaku instead — and Morata, 24, is delighted at how things have worked out.

Asked about joining Chelsea after arriving in London for his medical, Morata said: “This is the best club. Antonio Conte is one of the best coaches in the world, so I’m happy to work with Antonio.”

He added: “I’m going to the team managed by the coach who has placed the most faith in me, and that’s great for me.

“I am very happy. I will be at Chelsea, a club that has always wanted me.

“I’m not disappointed about anything, I’ve won four titles [at Real Madrid], but now I only think of putting on the Chelsea shirt.

“I want to grow up, if I didn’t I wouldn’t have left. I’d like to thank [Real Madrid coach Zinedine] Zidane and wish him luck for the upcoming season.

“Thanks to all the Madridistas who supported me. I will always wish Madrid the best.”

The Spanish international’s move brings an end to a three-year wait to work with Conte, who signed him for Juventus in 2014 and failed in a bid to take him to Chelsea last summer.

In an earlier interview with The Guardian, Morata hailed Conte, 47, after missing out on the chance to work with the Italian at Juventus.

He said: “I am very conscious of that: he bet on me for Juventus, but left before I arrived — then he wanted me at Chelsea come what may.

“He knows me better than I could imagine, I am sure, and that is important — it motivates you to work hard, train well.

“I feel indebted to him because he is the coach that most trusted in me, most wanted me.”

Morata will join up with his new Chelsea teammates in Singapore once he officially becomes the club’s record signing.

Chelsea play the first friendly of their pre-season tour to China and Singapore against Arsenal in Beijing on Saturday. But it is too late for Chelsea to try to get a Chinese visa for Morata in time for Saturday, meaning he will team up with the rest of the squad in Singapore, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Chelsea fly straight to Singapore after the Arsenal game and play Bayern Munich in the national stadium next Tuesday, when Morata could make his unofficial debut. The Blues then face Inter Milan four days later before flying back to England.

Morata revealed he took advice from one of his new Chelsea teammates who will be in Singapore to greet him. “I spoke with [Cesar] Azpilicueta and he told me everything is OK, and he found it easy,” said Morata.

“The Premier League is one of the best in the world, so I’m happy to be here.”

Questioned on how close he came to moving to Old Trafford, Morata added: “I don’t know, the most important thing is I’m here playing for Chelsea. Finally I’m here.”

On the fact he almost joined Chelsea last summer, Morata added: “Various Premier League coaches called to tell me to play for them. I said yeah, I’d like to, that if I had to leave I would almost certainly go to London, but that I didn’t know what Madrid would do. I knew they’d bring me back, but I didn’t know if it was to keep me or sell me.

“I spoke directly to Mauricio Pochettino and Antonio Conte, although the norm is clubs call my dad or agent. Madrid said they didn’t want to sell. I remember talking to my dad then and him saying ‘This guy [Conte] is going to win the League there [in England].”

Real paid tribute to Morata ahead of his move to Chelsea by releasing a statement on their website that read: “The club wishes to express its thanks for the dedication, professionalism and exemplary conduct displayed by the player over the years, spanning his time in our academy right through to his spell as a member of the first-team squad.”