Left-back provides experience and leadership, both qualities Madrid have often lacked
Real Madrid have announced the signing of Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella.
The move has raised questions because the position was not considered by some to be the club’s most urgent priority. But the decision makes sense when a few factors are considered.
At 28, Cucurella arrives at his peak and with the proper level of experience to balance Alvaro Carreras’ youth. Experience is a quality that Madrid’s new coach Jose Mourinho values. Cucurella can provide significant competition for Carreras and feature in high profile games when a leader and a more established club and international player is needed.
The same approach has been followed on the right flank, where Madrid brought in Netherlands international Denzel Dumfries to provide competition with Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back. He will also be a solid option to call upon when stronger defensive attributes are required.
In the middle of the pitch, Bernardo Silva’s experience after a decade at Manchester City should come in handy in a relatively young Madrid midfield of Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham.
It was Camavinga’s immaturity that cost Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final match against Bayern Munich, when he unwisely and unnecessarily kicked the ball about, delaying play and thereby earning himself a second yellow card in one of the club’s biggest games of the season.
Cucurella made 50 appearances for Chelsea last season and played 150 matches after joining from Brighton in 2022. During that period, he won the Conference League and Club World Cup. At international level, he won Euro 2024 with Spain and reached the Nations League final.
