Arsenal duo Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie were both on Real Madrid’s transfer shortlist before Marc Cucurella completed a move to the Bernabeu, according to reports in Spain.
Madrid have wasted little time strengthening their squad on the back of a desperately disappointing season last term, with Jose Mourinho’s return as manager sparking a flurry of transfer activity.
It’s understood Inter Milan and Netherlands right-back Denzel Dumfries has agreed personal terms with the La Liga giants and will sign on the dotted line in due course.
And at left-back, Madrid saw off strong competition from the likes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid to land Cucurella in a £51.8million deal with Chelsea.
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The 27-year-old Spaniard – who reportedly handed in a transfer request at Stamford Bridge – has put pen to paper on a six-year contract with Madrid after an agreement was struck on Sunday.
The stunning move saw Cucurella become the second most costly defender – in terms of accumulative transfer fees – in football history, behind only Matthijs de Ligt of Manchester United.
According to Madrid-based newspaper AS, Mourinho ‘has had a seat at the decision-making table’ and is already having ‘a lot of influence’ on signings since returning for a second spell in charge at the Bernabeu.
The Portuguese is said to have ‘spearheaded’ the impending arrival of Dumfries, ‘singling out’ the Dutchman when Madrid bosses were mulling over a long list of names.
He has also been at the heart of discussions regarding a move for Bernardo Silva, with the midfielder reportedly agreeing a deal with Madrid following following his departure at Manchester City.
The report stresses that the deal for Cucurella was ‘driven by Mourinho’s desire’ as Madrid scoured the market for a new left-back. The tenacious Spain international had been on the club’s shortlist for some time, along with Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol, and Arsenal duo Calafiori and Hincapie.
It’s claimed Mourinho made it clear he wanted Cucurella above Madrid’s other targets – and the move progressed at a pace once the Special One clicked his fingers.
Facing the media ahead of Spain’s opening Group H clash with Cape Verde, Luis de le Fuente was keen to reassure fans that he had no concerns over Cucurella’s state of mind.
‘I know all the players very well, I know their commitment and professionalism,’ the Spain head coach told reporters.
‘We’ve already experienced this at the European Championship with other players if you recall.
‘We handled it with ease and normalcy so that it didn’t cause any problems or uncomfortable situations.
‘No one on the team, I guarantee you, would do anything that could harm the rest of the group. Not at all.’
Pressed for further comment on Cucurella’s future, De la Fuente added: ‘We celebrate if it’s good news for Cucu.
‘And if something else comes up during the tournament with another team-mate 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.’
The Spain boss went on: ‘If he’s happy and content then I’m happy and content. Anything I see that brings my players happiness makes me as happy as they are.’
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Just a day before news of Cucurella’s impending move broke, the defender had played down speculation that he was unhappy at Chelsea and keen to leave the west London outfit.
‘Right now I don’t want to talk about that,’ Cucurella told El Partidazo de COPE.
‘It’s true that I’m very happy where I am, I’m very happy, my family is very happy.
‘Whatever you do, don’t drive me crazy [with transfer questions]. I don’t like to be burdened with worries. I already have enough with what I have, without adding any more.’
Asked if he was attracted to Xabi Alonso’s project at Chelsea, Cucurella explained: ‘Yes. I’ve spoken with him and he inspired a lot of confidence in me.
‘I’ve also spoken with [Alejandro] Grimaldo and Borja [Iglesias], who have worked with him, and they spoke very highly of him. The project seems very interesting.’
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