Marc Cucurella has broken his silence following his blockbuster move to Real Madrid, revealing that an encouraging phone call from Jose Mourinho helped pave the way. Despite his deep-rooted ties to Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, the 27-year-old left-back insisted he could not turn down the chance to join the most successful club in Europe.
New Real Madrid signing Cucurella opened up about the welcoming phone call he received from Mourinho following his move to the Bernabeu. The defender, who has just completed a £52 million transfer from Chelsea, revealed that the legendary Portuguese manager reached out to express his confidence ahead of their work together in the Spanish capital.
Speaking to El Mundo from the Spain national team camp during the 2026 World Cup, Cucurella said that they were talking and Mourinho told him he was really looking forward to working with him, that he would adapt very well, and that Real Madrid was a great club. He added that the manager told him to do very well in the World Cup and that they would see each other in Madrid.
When pressed on the speculation that Mourinho had explicitly told him he wouldn’t sign any other left-back if a deal fell through, Cucurella added that he did not know if the manager said that, but he told him he wanted him, and that was it. He expressed that he is very happy about this confidence and is looking forward to starting to work with him.
Read more about this topic: Marc Cucurella signs with Real Madrid (with videos)
The move has caused a stir in Spain due to Cucurella’s history at La Masia, but the left-back remains firm in his professional choice. He explained that any initial doubts disappeared the moment Los Blancos showed interest, stating that there were different options, but when the offer from Real Madrid came along, he didn’t hesitate because it is a unique opportunity and playing for them is an honour.
Addressing the fans who might struggle to see a former Barcelona youth product in the white of Madrid, he said that life has different stages and he has had to make an important decision. He explained that when you are a kid, you dream of playing for big teams, and Real Madrid is the team with the most Champions League titles in the world, where he hopes to win titles and have a wonderful time.
The speed of the negotiation caught many by surprise, including the player himself, as the deal progressed from initial contact to a confirmed signature in less than two days. The timing was particularly sensitive given Cucurella’s involvement in Spain’s World Cup campaign, but the defender was relieved to have his future resolved so quickly to avoid any distractions on international duty.
He noted that it was all done in a day and a half or two, which was much better for him, much faster, and without any headaches. He recalled that it was Sunday afternoon when they told him everything was more or less done, and though the announcement was difficult with the time change because it came out hours before the Cape Verde match, everything was already finalized.
