Two days were all it took for Marc Cucurella's move from Chelsea to Real Madrid to come together.
And according to reports, one of the key figures behind the deal was Jose Mourinho. Rather than leaving negotiations to agents and club executives, Mourinho reportedly made a direct call that helped push the transfer forward.
How Mourinho Accelerated Cucurella's Move To Madrid
On Friday morning, Mourinho reportedly made his position clear to Real Madrid's board: it was "the Spain international or no one" that was his preferred choice at left-back. By that afternoon, the club had already presented a contract offer to Cucurella's representatives.
That's the kind of progress that usually takes weeks, not hours. Talks continued through Saturday, when Mourinho reportedly called Cucurella directly, telling him he wanted the defender to join his squad.
For a 27-year-old who had been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge for months, hearing it straight from the manager who wanted him changed everything with personal terms agreed shortly afterwards.
Cucurella had been open to leaving Chelsea after the club missed out on European football following a tenth-place Premier League finish last season. As a result, Real Madrid's interest was met with little resistance from the player.
How Much Real Madrid Are Paying For Marc Cucurella
Real Madrid agreed to pay a fixed fee of €55m plus a further €5m in instalments, bringing the total package to €60m, more than the €50m figure initially reported during negotiations. The deal is worth just over £50m, with part of the fee structured through additional payments.
Chelsea paid £60m to sign Cucurella from Brighton in 2022. Three years and 163 appearances later, Los Blancos are set to pay almost the same amount to bring him to Spain.
Real Madrid had also been competing with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid for Cucurella's signature, but moved decisively enough that neither rival club could keep pace.
Why Cucurella Fits Mourinho's Real Madrid Project
In the 2025-26 Premier League season, Cucurella recorded one goal and four assists across 2,710 minutes. They're modest attacking numbers for a defender, but they highlight the all-round profile that has made him such an attractive option at left-back.
Across his career, Cucurella has won 9 trophies, including the EURO 2024 title with Spain, the UEFA Conference League, and the FIFA Club World Cup with Chelsea.
Born in Alella, Spain, and standing at 1.74m, Cucurella came through Barcelona's La Masia academy before loan spells at Eibar and Getafe shaped him into the player Brighton signed in 2021.
The Spaniard has earned 23 caps for Spain since his international debut in 2021, and he's currently away with the national team for the 2026 World Cup, where Spain opened their campaign in Group H against Cape Verde on June 15.
Speaking after Spain’s World Cup qualifying win over Bulgaria earlier this year, head coach Luis de la Fuente praised Cucurella for his performance.
“Cucurella shines against Bulgaria,” the manager said, adding that he was “not at all worried” about his side’s attacking options following the defender’s first international goal in the match.
"I completely agree. Sometimes those up front shine so much that we overlook other positions. This is the case with Cucurella, whom I congratulate on his first goal for the national team. But just as I mentioned, I could say the same about [Alejandro] Grimaldo or [Alejandro] Balde, who is injured, poor guy, but who is part of this group of players we manage."
"I'm not at all worried about this because we have players who can score goals, and plenty of them. At the last European Championship, we broke Spain's record for goals in the final stages, and we did it with ten different scorers from all positions."
What Cucurella's Exit Means For Chelsea's Rebuild
The part of this story that often gets overlooked is what happens to the squad left behind. Cucurella only signed a new contract with the Blues last summer, so his departure would normally feel long-term.
But after a tenth-place Premier League finish, the club’s priorities have shifted quickly, including for established first-team players. For Chelsea’s younger players and academy prospects, the move is a reminder of how quickly senior squads can change.
A starting left-back, signed to a long-term deal just months ago, can still leave within 48 hours when the right conditions align at a top club.
It is still unclear whether Cucurella held any discussions with incoming Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, who officially takes charge on July 1, meaning the decision was completed before the club’s new era had even begun.
That leaves a vacancy at left-back at Stamford Bridge, and a decision for the club to make. Whether Chelsea chooses to sign another senior replacement or trust their academy options will be an early indicator of how Alonso wants to shape his squad.
What Cucurella's Transfer Means For Real Madrid's Future
Real Madrid are expected to announce the Cucurella deal within hours of it being finalised. For Mourinho, it is an early sign of his involvement in recruitment, with the manager reportedly playing a direct role in helping secure the transfer once he identifies a target.
Cucurella arrives at the Bernabeu with a growing reputation as one of Europe’s top left-backs, and now faces the challenge of living up to that status in Real Madrid’s white shirt.
