Real Madrid spent a hefty 60 million euros to sign Spanish national team starting left back Marc Cucurella from Chelsea, as Jose Mourinho demanded him as the only true fit he wanted at the position to start for him next season and beyond.
Mourinho probably loves that Cucurella is a hard working, defensive left back who can run up and down the pitch, win possession, and progress play without sacrificing any defensive stability for the team. The former European Champion was a La Liga standout early in his career before becoming a fixture in the Premier League for Brighton and then Chelsea.
As an academy product from Barcelona, Cucurella's transfer to rivals Real Madrid has caused quite the stir. Not only because of his roots in Barca and the fact that many of his Spanish teammates at the World Cup are current Barcelona stars, but also because there were more links of a transfer to Barcelona or even Atletico Madrid this summer than to Real Madrid - but then Jose Mourinho decided to change everything.
Marc Cucurella belongs
Despite his roots in Barcelona and even playing for stingy Real Madrid rivals Getafe after that in the Spanish top flight, Marc Cucurella already sounds like he belongs at the Santiago Bernabeu as a true Madridista.
When asked about Barcelona fans being angry at him for signing with Real Madrid, he delivered a gem of a line that will have Madridistas applauding and Blaugrana supporters quietly foaming at the mouth at this factual statement.
Cucurella said, via Fabrizio Romano, "Barcelona fans angry at me? You can not reject Real Madrid. I am very happy with my decision”.
It is a similar sentiment that so many stars have relayed, too, including another new signing this summer that Jose badly wanted for Real Madrid in Manchester City star Bernardo Silva, who actually was on the verge of signing with Barcelona or Atletico Madrid before Mou and Madrid made another big time swoop for a Premier League star from the Iberian peninsula.
Barcelona fans are definitely going to still be very angry with Cucurella, perhaps even angrier after he swooned for Real Madrid like that. But it is true. Real Madrid usually only come around once in a career, unless if you are someone like Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland, and when you have the chance to move there, you really have to take it. Cucurella grabbed the brass ring.
Add us as a preferred source on Google