Spain manager Luis de la Fuente says he is ‘happy’ for Marc Cucurella and will ‘celebrate’ with the Chelsea defender if he gets his wish to join Real Madrid.
Cucurella’s future has been the subject of intense speculation ahead of the summer transfer window, with the 27-year-old left-back believed to have handed in a transfer request at Stamford Bridge.
It comes after Cucurella launched a stinging attack on the Chelsea board in the latter half of the season, in which he questioned the decision to sack Enzo Maresca while also pointing to a lack of experience in the dressing room.
In the intervening weeks, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City and Manchester United have all been monitoring the situation, sensing an opportunity to sign one of the most highly regarded full-backs in world football.
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However, Real Madrid – and the newly appointed Jose Mourinho – have jumped to the front of the queue for Cucurella and widespread reports this evening suggest Los Blancos have reached a verbal agreement to land the Spain international.
It’s understood the La Liga giants will pay €55million (£47.5m) plus €5m (£4.3m) in bonuses for Cucurella, with the ex-Brighton man set to complete his switch once Spain’s World Cup campaign comes to an end.
Facing the media ahead of Spain’s opening Group H clash with Cape Verde, De le Fuente reassured fans that he had no concerns over Cucurella’s state of mind or ‘commitment’ to the cause despite the swirling rumours.
‘I know all the players very well, I know their commitment and professionalism,’ the Spain head coach told reporters when asked about Madrid’s reported deal for Cucurella.
‘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.’
Just a day before news of Cucurella’s impending move broke, the defender 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.’
Last month, Alonso was unable to rule out the possibility of Chelsea cashing in on Joao Pedro, Enzo Fernandez or Cucurella when cornered by the Spanish press in the street.
Instead, the former Liverpool midfielder reassured Chelsea fans that he would be doing everything in his power to ‘make a good team’.
‘This is football, and we’ll make a good team,’ Alonso said when pressed on the incessant rumours and speculation surrounding Chelsea’s top stars.
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