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‘You or Nobody’—The One Real Madrid Signing Jose Mourinho Insisted on This Summer

The Portuguese got his way as he bids to dethrone rivals Barcelona.
Andrew Headspeath|
José Mourinho has had a say in Madrid’s summer transfer plans.
José Mourinho has had a say in Madrid’s summer transfer plans. | David Balogh/Getty Images

José Mourinho personally insisted on the summer signing of Marc Cucurella from Chelsea this summer and took a leading role in forcing through the transfer.

Madrid have made six first-team signing so far this summer as part of a major rebuild that has followed two seasons without a trophy. In addition to the arrival of Cucurella, Madrid have brought in Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, Carlos Espí and new club-record singing Yan Diomande for a combined total of over €200 million ($230 million)—the most spent by Los Blancos in a single window since 2019.

However, it is the €60 million ($70 million) transfer of Cucurella that Mourinho is said to been determined to get done.

Left back has been a problem position at the Bernabéu practically since the end of Marcelo’s time at the club. Ferland Mendy, a favorite under Zinedine Zidane and then Carlo Ancelotti for his defensive work, has struggled badly with injury issues, while last summer’s €50 million ($57.75 million) arrival Álvaro Carreras has largely failed to meet expectations.

Mourinho Moved Fast for Left Back Pirority

Marc Cucurella
Cucurella’s move was pushed through by Mourinho. | Maria Jimenez/Real Madrid/Getty Images

The announcement of Cucurella’s signing on June 15, just four days after the official re-appointment of Mourinho caught many people off guard.

According to MARCA, the newly appointed manager personally identified Cucurella as the player he needed to solve Madrid’s issue. It is said he told the club hierarchy that Cucurella was the only player he wanted for the role.

The report claims that Mourinho also personally called the former Barcelona left back to convince him of the transfer, saying “I want you in my project, it's you or nobody.” The deal was completed in just 48 hours.

Cucurella went on to play a crucial role in Spain’s World Cup win in North America, starting in all eight of his country’s matches.

Cucurella Reveals He Had ‘Options’

Real Madrid’s new left back, recently handed the number 17 jersey for the upcoming season, previously revealed that Real Madrid were not the only club interested in him this summer, but that Mourinho’s hard sell helped convince him to make the move.

“There were different options, but when the Real Madrid offer came along, I didn't hesitate,” he told El Mundo.

“I think it's a unique opportunity. Mourinho told me he was really looking forward to working with me, that I would adapt very well, and that Real Madrid was a great club. I was impressed because he had seen my matches from last season, and he explained what he wanted from me very well.”

Cucurella, who spent four seasons at Chelsea, will start as Madrid’s left back this season, with Carerras and Mendy as backup options, while Fran García has joined Real Betis.

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Andrew Headspeath
ANDREW HEADSPEATH

Andy Headspeath is a Real Madrid correspondent for Sports Illustrated FC. Originally from the UK, the weather, culture and soccer lured him to Spain over a decade ago where he lives with his wife, son and two untrainable dogs. A player of unspeakably limited talents and only one fully functional knee, he has more than a decade's experience in a wide variety of editorial roles within sports media, from match reporting to in-depth feature writing and interviews. He specializes in soccer history and culture, as well as—of course—La Liga.

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