Marc Cucurella Discusses His £52 Million Transfer to Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho's Support

Marc Cucurella shares insights on his transfer from Chelsea to Real Madrid, highlighting Jose Mourinho's encouragement and his decision despite ties to Barcelona.

Marc Cucurella has spoken out following his high-profile transfer to Real Madrid, revealing that a supportive phone call from Jose Mourinho played a significant role in his decision. The 27-year-old left-back emphasized that despite his strong connections to Barcelona's prestigious La Masia academy, he felt compelled to accept the opportunity to join the most successful club in European football.

Cucurella, who recently completed a £52 million transfer from Chelsea, recounted how Mourinho reached out to him to express his enthusiasm about their collaboration in Madrid. During an interview with El Mundo, while at the Spain national team camp for the 2026 World Cup, he stated, "Yes, we were talking and he told me he was really looking forward to working with me, that I would adapt very well, that Real Madrid was a great club. Then, nothing more, just that I should do very well in the World Cup and that we would see each other in Madrid."

When asked about rumors suggesting that Mourinho had explicitly told him he would not pursue any other left-back if Cucurella's deal fell through, he responded, "No, I don't know if he said that. He told me he wanted me, and that's it. I'm very happy about this confidence. I'm looking forward to starting to work with him."

The transfer has sparked considerable discussion in Spain due to Cucurella's background at La Masia, yet the defender remains resolute in his professional decision. He explained that any initial reservations vanished the moment Real Madrid expressed interest. "There were different options, but when the offer from Real Madrid came along, I didn't hesitate. I think it's a unique opportunity. Ultimately, playing for Real Madrid is an honour, and not many players can say that, so I had no doubts," he remarked.

Cucurella addressed fans who might find it difficult to accept a former Barcelona youth player joining Real Madrid, stating, "I tell them that life has different stages. In this case, I've had to make an important decision, and I have no doubts; I think it's a big step for me. When you're a kid, you dream of playing for big teams, and I think Real Madrid is one of them. They're the team with the most Champions League titles in the world, and I hope to win titles with them and have a wonderful time there."

The swift nature of the negotiations surprised many, including Cucurella himself, as the process moved from initial discussions to a completed deal in under two days. The timing of the transfer was particularly critical given Cucurella’s participation in Spain’s World Cup campaign, but he expressed relief at having his future settled quickly to minimize distractions during international play.

"I think it was all done in a day and a half or two," he stated. "Much better for me, much faster, no headaches. It's finally been finalized and I'm very happy. I think it was Sunday afternoon... when they told me that everything was more or less done, that there were still some paperwork issues, signatures, but nothing serious. And then they announced it, which was a bit more difficult with the time change, because it came out hours before the Cape Verde match, but the truth is that everything was already done."

While Cucurella's club situation is now resolved, he is currently focused on overcoming a challenging start to the World Cup, where Spain was held to a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde. He acknowledged the disappointment among fans but called for patience as the European champions aim to find their form in upcoming matches.

"It's clear it hasn't been good. We all wanted to win, and maybe it seemed easier than it actually was," Cucurella reflected, looking ahead to the match against Saudi Arabia. "We made a few mistakes, we weren't entirely accurate, a bit imprecise, and against those teams, when you don't start well, everything gets complicated. We lacked a bit of freshness, of ideas, because we don't usually make many mistakes. But well, we have time to improve and prepare well for the next match. It's better that what happened in Cape Verde happened now, so we can gradually improve."