Marc Cucurella has insisted it was a no-brainer to leave Chelsea for “Europe’s biggest club” Real Madrid this summer.
Cucurella, a product of the Barcelona academy, had flirted with a return to Camp Nou towards the end of last season, only for Real Madrid to swoop in and strike a deal to sign the Chelsea left back for a reported $69.4 million (£51.8 million, €60 million).
“It’s an honor,” Cucurella told club media after returning from a post-World Cup vacation. “Not many people can say they’ve worn this jersey.
“We’ve seen great legends here, it’s a club with a lot of history, the biggest in Europe. Being here today is a privilege, an honor and above all, a reward for all the effort I’ve put into my career.”
He added: “As a kid starting out playing football, then having the opportunity to play for a club like this, it’s very hard to turn down. When the opportunity came, I didn’t hesitate for a second.
“As a spectator, I’ve seen all those magical nights, those comebacks at the Bernabéu, all the Champions League titles they’ve lifted. Having the chance to experience it first-hand and be a part of it is a huge responsibility, but also a very beautiful and important challenge."
Why Real Madrid Spent Big on Cucurella
At the time of Cucurella’s arrival at Madrid, Los Blancos actually had a total of four left backs on the books, one of whom was Álvaro Carreras, the 23-year-old who was signed for $58.4 million just last summer.
Carreras had shone at Benfica but struggled to replicate that form at the Bernabéu. Towards the end of the season under Álvaro Arbeloa, Carreras had been relegated to the bench, with Ferland Mendy and Fran García given more of the minutes.
Mendy had been a steady presence in defense for Madrid before a gruesome knee injury suffered in May sent him to the sidelines. Initial reports suggested Mendy may need up to a year to recover, although four-to-five months has since been floated as a potential timeline.
With Mendy unavailable and neither Carreras nor García inspiring much faith defensively, Mourinho made the decision that he needed another senior head at the back. 28-year-old Cucurella was quickly identified as Mourinho’s preferred recruit. A deal was struck just as fast to take him to the Bernabéu, with García promptly leaving.
Despite attracting widespread ridicule during the early months of his time with Chelsea, Cucurella eventually established himself as one of the Blues’ top performers, impacting games both in attack and in defense.
Cucurella then played every minute of Spain’s run to World Cup glory, adding three assists while conceding just one goal, to prove his ability to flourish in a different setup as well.
