It’s summer transfer window time, and Álvaro Morata is on the move once again, as is Olivier Giroud. Yeah, you guessed it right: Morata is signing for AC Milan, replacing the departed Olivier Giroud.
The Spanish Euro-winning captain is returning to Italy where he spent a couple of seasons with Juventus from 2014-2016 and two more seasons from 2020-2022. Milan, after failed attempts to sign different profiles, are willing to sign Morata, who on paper looks like an ideal replacement for the Frenchman Giroud, but what do the numbers say?
The below visualisation shows Morata’s numbers for different metrics from last season at Atlético Madrid.
Morata, who is seen as someone who is at the right time at the right place inside the penalty area, is similar to the Frenchman in many ways. Giroud’s shot volume dropped last season, but both Morata and Giroud have ranked above average for shot volume quite often in their careers — Morata ranking in the top 20% for shots per 90 minutes among centre-forwards in Europe’s top five leagues last term.
Not very good at dribbling and, in fact, quite hesitant at dribbling the ball forward, Morata, like Giroud, ranked below the median for dribbles attempted per 90 minutes.
With 15 goals to his name, Morata even had the same number of goals as Giroud last season.
That being said, ranking in the 62nd percentile for xG Contributions per 90, Morata finished lower in that metric compared to Giroud, who was in the top 25% of the same metric. Good at holding up play and linking with wingers who run in behind the lines, Morata is good with his back to the goal. Possessing an aerial threat very similar to the Frenchman, Morata ranked in the top 2% for aerial duels won.
At the start of the window, Morata was not on Milan’s list — nor were Milan on Morata’s — but here we are. As the season goes by, it will be interesting to see how frequently Morata is used and what impact he can make.
