Morata eager to close transfer from Chelsea to Atletico

MADRID (AP) — Alvaro Morata passed his medical exam with Atleitco Madrid on Sunday ahead of his desired transfer from Chelsea back to the team where he started playing as a child.

"I am very happy and eager for this be a done deal so I can train with my teammates," Morata told Spanish media upon arrival in Madrid early on Sunday morning. "I began playing at Atletico, and the people who know where I come from know my past and what this means for me," Morata said.

The 26-year-old Morata passed his medical exam with Atletico hours later. The club has not made his transfer official.

While awaiting the official announcement of Morata's arrival Atletico said that it had agreed to loan Portugal forward Gelson Martins to Monaco for the remainder of this season.

Barring a last-minute snag, Morata will return to the Spanish league after a disappointing year-and-a-half with Chelsea.

Morata will join a team coached by Diego Simeone and led by France forward Antoine Griezmann as he tries to return to his best form.

Morata left Atletico's youth program in 2007 and joined rival Real Madrid's academy a year later. He went on to become a top talent for Madrid, helping it win two Champions League titles. He also played for Juventus in Italy's Serie A from 2014-16.

Atletico is in second place behind Barcelona in the Spanish league and will face Juventus in the Champions League round-of-16 starting on Feb. 20.

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