Mourinho's personal call convinced Cucurella to seal £52m Real Madrid move in 36 hours

Marc Cucurella has described how his £52 million move from Chelsea to Real Madrid was effectively settled within 36 hours, with a personal call from José Mourinho proving the decisive factor. The Spain international, speaking to reporters from the national team’s World Cup base in Chattanooga, Tennessee, said he had no doubts once the call came through.

The fee — reported as £47.5 million fixed plus £4.3 million in add-ons — ties the 27-year-old left-back to Los Blancos on a six-year contract running into the early 2030s. The deal was finalised while Cucurella remained on international duty, a logistical quirk that, by his own account, suited all parties.

“It was all very fast,” Cucurella said. “I got a phone call one morning. My people told me the two clubs had the terms mostly agreed and that I had to decide if I wanted to go there. I had no doubts. It is a big step for me, very important in my career. It all happened in roughly a day and a half.”

The speed of the agreement is notable given that Cucurella had previously insisted he was content at Chelsea. It also reflects a broader pattern from Madrid this window: identifying a target, moving quickly, and concluding bilateral negotiations before the deal becomes public knowledge.

Mourinho’s personal involvement was a thread Cucurella returned to more than once. “Having a manager like Mourinho calling you and saying he can’t wait to work with you gives you a lot of confidence,” he said. “What I liked a lot is that he remembered a lot of things from the game I played against him for Chelsea against Benfica in the Champions League. He insisted that he believes I can add a lot to the team and the dressing room.”

The detail about Mourinho referencing a specific Champions League fixture is significant. A manager doing targeted homework to make a personal case is a recruitment tactic, but it is also a pointed signal of intent — and Cucurella received it as one.

The more delicate part of the interview concerned his La Masia roots. Cucurella joined Barcelona’s academy at 14, made just one senior appearance for the club, and rebuilt his career at Getafe, Brighton, and Chelsea before joining the club Barcelona regard as their primary rival. He acknowledged the reaction from Barça supporters without overstating it.

“I have to respect everyone’s opinions,” he said. “I am very thankful for everything I experienced in my career and what I learnt in La Masia. But there are different chapters in life and I thought this was the right step for me. When Madrid comes for you, it is very difficult to say no.”

Cucurella offered no apology and made no attempt to soften the symbolism of the move — a measured response that suggests he is comfortable with the decision, whatever the reaction from his former club’s supporters.