Mourinho's blitzkrieg crucial for Cucurella's Madrid move
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 15.06.26. | 14:41
The Spain international has joined Los Blancos on a six-year deal worth up to €60 million after a whirlwind 48-hour negotiation process
Real Madrid have moved swiftly to solve their left-back dilemma, officially securing the signing of Marc Cucurella from Chelsea in a deal worth up to €60 million.
The Spanish international, currently representing Spain at the FIFA World Cup, has signed a six-year contract with Los Blancos, keeping him at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2032.
Chelsea will receive an initial €55 million fee, while a further €5 million could be paid in bonuses, taking the total value of the transfer to €60 million.
What makes the deal particularly remarkable is the speed with which it was completed. According to reports, Real Madrid wrapped up the entire operation in just 48 hours.
The process began on Friday when the Spanish giants submitted their opening offer. Matters accelerated significantly on Saturday after Jose Mourinho personally contacted Cucurella. The Portuguese manager reportedly outlined his plans for the player and the role he would have in the team, convincing the 27-year-old that Madrid was the right destination.
Negotiations with Chelsea were concluded on Sunday without major obstacles, and Real Madrid officially announced the transfer on Monday morning.
Both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona had been monitoring Cucurella's situation and were linked with potential moves, with Atletico believed to be leading the race at one stage. However, once Real Madrid entered the picture, the defender's decision was made.
Mourinho's involvement proved decisive, with Cucurella quickly giving the green light to the move.
The only undisclosed detail remains the player's salary package, although that information is expected to emerge in the coming days.
The transfer also adds another chapter to Cucurella's costly career journey. Chelsea paid approximately €65 million to sign him from Brighton, who had previously acquired him from Getafe for €20 million. Before that, Getafe purchased the Spaniard from Barcelona for €10 million. Including Real Madrid's fixed €55 million payment, clubs have now spent around €150 million in transfer fees on the left-back throughout his career.
His arrival creates a crowded situation on the left side of Real Madrid's defence. Alongside Cucurella, the club already have Alvaro Carreras, Fran Garcia and Ferland Mendy competing for the same position.
As a result, Real Madrid are expected to offload at least one, and potentially two, left-backs during the transfer window. Carreras could be among the first names to depart, despite the club spending €50 million to sign him less than a year ago.
Chelsea also paid tribute to the departing defender, who made 163 appearances for the Blues across all competitions. During his time at Stamford Bridge, Cucurella scored nine goals and provided 13 assists, while helping the club win the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup.