Real Madrid considered Arsenal duo Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie before completing the signing of Marc Cucurella from Chelsea, according to reports in Spain. The La Liga giants have been active in the transfer market following a disappointing season, with Jose Mourinho's return as manager sparking a flurry of activity.
Cucurella joins Real Madrid in £51.8m deal
Madrid secured Cucurella from Chelsea for £51.8 million, beating competition from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. The 27-year-old Spaniard reportedly handed in a transfer request at Stamford Bridge and signed a six-year contract with Madrid. The deal makes Cucurella the second most costly defender in football history in terms of accumulative transfer fees, behind Manchester United's Matthijs de Ligt.
According to Madrid-based newspaper AS, Mourinho has had a significant influence on signings since returning for a second spell at the Bernabeu. The Portuguese manager spearheaded the impending arrival of Inter Milan right-back Denzel Dumfries and has been involved in discussions regarding a move for Bernardo Silva, who reportedly agreed a deal with Madrid after leaving Manchester City.
Mourinho drove Cucurella transfer
The report stresses that the Cucurella deal was driven by Mourinho's desire. The Spain international had been on Madrid's shortlist alongside Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol and Arsenal duo Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie. Mourinho made it clear he wanted Cucurella above other targets, and the move progressed quickly.
Spain coach comments on Cucurella
Ahead of Spain's World Cup group match against Cape Verde, coach Luis de la Fuente expressed no concerns over Cucurella's state of mind. "I know all the players very well, I know their commitment and professionalism," de la Fuente told reporters. "We've already experienced this at the European Championship with other players. We handled it with ease and normalcy."
De la Fuente added: "We celebrate if it's good news for Cucu. If something else comes up during the tournament with another teammate and it's good news for him, then we celebrate that too. What is good for one of my players is good for the team as a whole."
Just a day before news of the move broke, Cucurella had played down speculation he was unhappy at Chelsea. "Right now I don't want to talk about that," he told El Partidazo de COPE. "It's true that I'm very happy where I am, my family is very happy. Whatever you do, don't drive me crazy with transfer questions."
