Defender reveals deal was done in a day and a half, and Chelsea agreed to a sale before his agents even contacted him
Marc Cucurella has said he did not expect to leave Chelsea this summer but found Real Madrid’s approach irresistible when they made their interest known.
Cucurella has completed a £52m move from Chelsea to the Bernabeu. The Spain international revealed the deal was concluded in less than two days after Madrid reached an agreement with Chelsea, allowing him to finalise the move before fully focusing on Spain’s World Cup campaign.
The 27-year-old has spent four years in west London, where he established himself as a regular and won major honours. But he believes a move to Madrid is the right step for both his career and his family.
“It was all very fast,” Cucurella said. “I got a phone call one morning. My people told me the two clubs had the terms mostly agreed and that I had to decide if I wanted to go there. I had no doubts.
“It is a big step for me, very important in my career. It all happened in roughly a day and a half. For me, that was the best thing, so it could be all done and I could keep my focus on the World Cup.”
Cucurella also revealed that Mourinho contacted him personally before the transfer was completed.
“We had a chat,” Cucurella said. “I was very happy. Having a manager like Mourinho calling you and saying he can’t wait to work with you gives you a lot of confidence.
“It was a quick chat, to be honest. I did not want to shift my focus away from Spain duty. But what I liked a lot is that he remembered a lot of things from the game I played against him for Chelsea against Benfica in the Champions League.
“He insisted that he believes I can add a lot to the team and the dressing room. That just gave me more confidence.”
The transfer has prompted criticism from some Barcelona supporters given Cucurella’s roots in Catalonia and his development at La Masia. The defender said he understood the reactions.
“I have to respect everyone’s opinions,” Cucurella said. “I am very thankful for everything I have experienced in my career and what I learnt in La Masia. But there’s different chapters in life and I thought this was the right step for me. When Madrid comes for you, it is very difficult to say no.”
