Former Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has shared details of his surprise move to Real Madrid. The 27-year-old explained why he accepted the offer from Los Blancos, despite his background in FC Barcelona’s La Masia academy.
In an interview with El Mundo, Cucurella explained that José Mourinho played a crucial role in the transfer. It turns out that before the €60 million deal was finalized, the Portuguese manager personally contacted the player. Mourinho expressed his confidence in the defender, telling him he was waiting for him in Madrid.
According to Cucurella, José Mourinho emphasized during their conversation the greatness of the capital-based club, and how easily he would adapt to the team. “He told me he was looking forward to working with me and that Real Madrid is an exceptional club. He also wished me the best of luck for the 2026 World Cup, he also expressed his eagerness to see me in Madrid,” the player added.
According to the same source, the transfer process was surprisingly quick, all the negotiations and final paperwork took only a day and a half or two days. The fact that the process was completed while he was at the La Roja camp allowed him to focus on the 2026 FIFA World Cup without added pressure.
Although he trained at FC Barcelona, Cucurella admitted that it was impossible to refuse Real Madrid’s offer. The Spanish international stated that playing for the club with the most Champions League titles, is every footballer’s dream, adding that he absolutely did not regret his decision, as he launched a new chapter in his professional career.
“As a child, I dreamed of playing for big teams, and Real Madrid is undoubtedly the biggest one. I hope the fans will understand my journey, because life is made up of different stages. I want to win trophies here and contribute to the team’s success,” added Marc Cucurella.
Cucurella is now expected to reinforce Real Madrid’s defense under the lead of José Mourinho.
