'He's not my friend!' - Cesc Fabregas denies close bond with Alvaro Morata after Chelsea & Spain spells and hails telling 'gesture' to seal Como transfer

Morata was able to complete his switch from Turkey to Italy after going through a lot of hassle. Como were able to secure the striker after a stalemate with Galatasaray, signing him on loan with an obligation to buy for around €10 million. Coach Fabregas, who is delighted with the signing and has played with the Spaniard for the national team and Chelsea, was asked about his relationship with the forward and questioned if he considers him a friend. Fabregas claimed the two have not spoken for years, but this does not detract from the fact that they have an excellent relationship.

Morata and Fabregas had played together on multiple occasions and won the FA Cup in the 2017-18 season with Chelsea. However, the two have not spoken much after leaving Chelsea. Fabregas says he does not stress about it much, claiming that Morata, with his gesture of dropping a major chunk of his wages, has already shown his desire and mentality to play for the Italian club. This should be a signal enough for how motivated and serious he is about this new challenge. 

Speaking to the media in a press conference, the Como head coach said: "Everyone is available, but I need to talk to Alvaro: we have a plan in place. He trained first with Galatasaray, then less, doing his workouts at home. I can't give any details about him."

When asked about his friendship with Morata, Fabregas said: "He's not a friend of mine. Since he left Chelsea, we haven't spoken, except for the occasional compliment. Even if he had been, he isn't today. We still have an excellent relationship: we spent two years together at Chelsea and with the national team. He's an extraordinary person, with a big heart, humble, and with a strong spirit of sacrifice, who can give a lot to the team. I'm not worried about our relationship: he has a great desire to do well. He gave up over 60 per cent of his salary, a gesture that says a lot about his mentality and his intentions. He didn't guarantee me a certain number of goals, but he showed a lot of work and positivity, an important signal for me and the team."

Como are all set to face Sudtirol in the first round of the Coppa Italia on August 15 before the Serie A kicks off on August 24, where they will face Lazio in their opening fixture.