Spanish defender Marc Cucurella has opened up on his decision to leave Chelsea FC ahead of the 2026/27 season, describing his switch to Real Madrid as a lifelong dream he could not ignore.

The left-back recently completed a high-profile move to the Santiago Bernabéu, bringing his Premier League spell to an end to return to Spain and join one of football’s most decorated clubs.

Speaking after sealing the transfer, Cucurella said the opportunity to represent Real Madrid was a decisive moment in his career, adding that he “had no doubts” once the offer arrived.

He also revealed that the prospect of working under returning manager José Mourinho influenced his decision, noting that the coach personally expressed his desire to work with him and made him feel central to the club’s plans.

Cucurella said:

“I was happy at Chelsea. But in life sometimes you need to change and you start new chapters that you don’t expect. For me and my family it was an opportunity we couldn’t refuse, and I’m very happy with the decision we made. When you’re a kid, you dream of playing for big teams, and I think Real Madrid is one of them”.

He continued:

“I want to win the Champions League at Real Madrid. They have the most UCLs, I want to be part of it”.

Despite the emotional exit, the defender insisted his departure from Chelsea was not driven by dissatisfaction but by ambition and the desire to take the next step in his career.

He expressed gratitude to Chelsea and supporters for his time in London while making clear that the move represents a fresh chapter in his professional journey rather than a reaction to any internal issues at Stamford Bridge.

With his arrival in Madrid, Cucurella now begins a new challenge at one of Europe’s biggest clubs, where expectations will be high as he looks to compete for major honours, including the UEFA Champions League.

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The deal, which runs for six years, sees the 27-year-old make a return to Spain after five seasons in the Premier League, bringing an end to weeks of speculation over his future at Stamford Bridge.

According to reports, the transfer is valued at an initial €60m (around £52m/$70m), with the overall package expected to rise depending on performance-related add-ons. The move represents a significant investment from Madrid as they continue reshaping their squad for the next cycle of domestic and European dominance.

Cucurella initially joined Chelsea from Brighton & Hove Albion in a £63m move four years ago. During his time in London, he made 163 appearances and was part of the squad that lifted both the UEFA Europa Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Real Madrid moved swiftly to secure his signature, identifying him as a priority target in their ongoing rebuild under new sporting direction. His arrival is expected to strengthen the left side of defence as the club looks to recover from two consecutive seasons without a major trophy.

In an official announcement, the club confirmed the agreement, stating:

“Real Madrid CF and Chelsea FC have reached an agreement for the transfer of the player Marc Cucurella, who will be linked to our club for the next six seasons, until June 30, 2032.”

Chelsea also released a farewell statement acknowledging the defender’s contributions during his spell in West London:

“Marc Cucurella has completed a permanent transfer to Spanish La Liga side Real Madrid. Cucurella joined Chelsea in the summer of 2022 from Brighton & Hove Albion and was part of the team that lifted the UEFA Europa Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup last year.”

“During Cucurella’s stay at Stamford Bridge, the 27-year-old defender regularly represented the Spanish national team and won the UEFA European Championships in 2024. Everyone at Chelsea FC would like to thank Marc for his efforts during his time at the club and for the role he played in our recent achievements. We wish him every success as he begins the next stage of his career.”

Marc Cucurella has completed a permanent transfer to Spanish La Liga side Real Madrid.

Everyone at Chelsea FC would like to thank Marc for his efforts during his time at the club and for the role he played in our recent achievements.

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 15, 2026

Despite his achievements, the final months of Cucurella’s Chelsea spell were marked by growing speculation around his long-term role at the club. Reports suggested tensions had emerged following internal changes and a turbulent season that saw the team struggle for consistency.

The defender had also previously hinted at his openness to new challenges, including a possible return to his boyhood club FC Barcelona, though that move never materialised.

Real Madrid’s latest acquisition is widely viewed as the opening move in a broader squad overhaul. The club is expected to remain active in the transfer market, with further links to several top European names as they aim to re-establish their dominance.

With Cucurella now set to join up after international duty, Madrid’s rebuild appears to be gathering momentum under their new sporting project, signalling a clear intent to return to the summit of European football.

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Mauricio Pochettino discussed his conversation with Marc Cucurella after the player’s failed effort to leave Chelsea in the summer.

While the Chelsea manager was not involved in Cucurella’s transfer talks throughout the summer, he did speak with the player separately after the window closed and stated his expectations and plans to the Spaniard.

Pochettino also lauded the left-back’s performance against Brighton in the Carabao Cup midweek match.

Speaking on the full-back’s failed transfer in the summer, Pochettino told reporters, “I don’t know because I wasn’t involved in this situation, that was more the sporting director, the [player’s] agent and the club,” he said.

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Recent sources claim that Manchester United is getting closer to luring Sergio Reguilon away from Tottenham on a temporary basis.

The decision was made at a time when Manchester United is aggressively looking for a new left-back to fill in temporarily for Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw, who are both dealing with long-term ailments. The club had targeted Marc Cucurella of Chelsea earlier this week, but it has since turned its focus to the Spanish defender.

Diogo Dalot had to step in as the left-back for their most recent game against Nottingham Forest because the team was without a senior player in that position who was fit and recognized by the team. In order to get regular first-team experience before the transfer deadline, Alvaro Fernandez, a young player with limited experience, might be loaned out.

While negotiations were ongoing for Cucurella, Chelsea’s insistence on a substantial loan fee, coupled with the fact that Cucurella had already played in the EFL Cup for Chelsea on Wednesday night, prompted Manchester United to explore other options. It’s worth noting that a player cannot represent three clubs in a single season, which added complexity to the situation. However, Manchester United is contemplating the possibility of returning the player they sign back to their parent club in January if needed.

Manchester United has tabled an offer for Reguilon on a season-long loan, with both United and Spurs expected to have a break clause in the arrangement come January.

Despite the fact that Cucurella was initially United’s main choice at the left-back position, Reguilon’s vast top-level experience with other teams makes him a more affordable option. Furthermore, acquiring Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina is United’s top aim before the transfer deadline. As was previously mentioned, talks for a loan deal with a purchase option are now being held with the Serie A team.

Manchester United has more negotiating room for Amrabat since they chose the more lucrative agreement with Reguilon over Cucurella. Both fronts are expected to make progress before the transfer window closes on Friday at 11 p.m.

As part of the probable deal, Sergio Reguilon has been given permission to visit Manchester United for a medical. Reguilon spent the previous season on loan at Atletico Madrid, where he appeared in 12 games, but he is not in Ange Postecoglou’s plans for Tottenham.

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An offer has been made by Manchester United for the loan of Marc Cucurella from Chelsea.

The Premier League foes at Stamford Bridge have been addressed, and negotiations are still going on.

United’s proposal is for an initial loan, and the clubs are talking about different restrictions on that.

The left-back from Spain is currently the front-runner because Old Trafford thinks he will fit into manager Erik ten Hag’s system well.

Due to Luke Shaw’s lengthy recovery from a muscle injury and the injury status of Tyrell Malacia, the Old Trafford club is in serious need of a new left-back on loan.

Their only other primary left-back is 20-year-old Alvaro Fernandez, who will start at Nottingham Forest on Saturday in place of the versatile Diogo Dalot.

Although the new Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is not a big fan, Man United is certain that Cucurella is a step up from the options now available. The 25-year-old has demonstrated his talent while playing for Brighton and Hove Albion.

🚨 Man Utd have submitted proposal to sign Marc Cucurella from Chelsea. #CFC responded, talks ongoing. Offer is initial loan + clubs discussing various parameters around that. #MUFC like 25yo for Ten Hag system; top candidate as things stand @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/QSoDdaayOC

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 29, 2023

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Cucurella is included alongside former Chelsea player Marcos Alonso, who is currently playing for Barcelona, as a prospective replacement for Luke Shaw, who was lost to injury.

Ben Chilwell has been starting for Chelsea this season, and Ian Maatsen has made two appearances as his backup, suggesting that Cucurella has slid down the pecking order since Pochettino’s arrival. On Wednesday, Cucurella might play against Wimbledon of League Two.

Prior to the match, Pochettino stated he currently has no reason to bench Cucurella for the cup match because United’s interest in the 25-year-old hasn’t materialized into something solid.

“I cannot talk about supposition or rumours,” Pochettino explained. “For tomorrow he is going to be able to play. The club did not communicate to me.

“All of the players in the squad are in our plans. It’s about situations, players and club, club and players. All of the players that are in our squad are in our plans even if they didn’t play at the moment.”

In addition to Cucurella and Alonso, United has talked about signing Sergio Reguilon, who has yet to play a single minute for Tottenham Hotspur under new boss Ange Postecoglou.

While United has not yet chosen their ideal target, they have already decided that a loan move would be preferable to a permanent offer.

Cucurella has struggled since his £62 million transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion last summer, and Chelsea are open to bids for the player as Pochettino looks to keep his roster as lean as possible.

The manager wants to retain his attention completely on getting ready for games, and he underlined that the club will make all decisions regarding departures, including those for players like Cucurella, Romelu Lukaku, and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

“I am not involved in these situations,” Pochettino stressed. “I am focused on the team. That is between the club and the player. Nobody communicated that something is finished. When something is done the club will communicate to you.”

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Chelsea are in the midst of a left-back crisis, with Frank Lampard confirming that Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella are both injured.

Chilwell was removed 15 minutes from the end of the Blues’ 3-1 win against Bournemouth last time out, with club captain Cesar Azpilicueta coming on in his stead.

Lampard is critically short of senior full-backs and may have to rely on the veteran Spanish defender once more in a home game against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The Blues boss told reporters when delivering the latest fitness update on his squad: “[Chilwell is] not fit. Wes [Fofana] has been training this week, so he is good. He [Cucurella] won’t be fit for this game. He’s [Kalidou Koulibaly] trained with us, not full training with us. It’s a similar story to Reece James and Mason Mount. I feel for him [Chilwell]. We miss big players. Ben, Mason and Reece are big internationals.”

While Azpilicueta is expected to come in against Forest, Lampard has another alternative in Lewis Hall, who has made seven appearances this season but has been ruled out of England’s U20 World Cup squad.

Lampard added: “Lewis has a chance. I was tempted to put him on last week but the experience of Azpi was more suitable. He is a very good player, a really talented player. He needs to come out of himself a bit more. I have been really impressed and he is in the running for the last four games. He wanted to play for his country but that is a good thing. But also he has come through this academy and is desperate to play.”

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Cristian Romero, a defender for Tottenham, has expressed remorse for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair in retaliation during a 2-2 draw with Chelsea earlier this season.

In an intense London derby that took place in August, Harry Kane scored an equalizer in the 96th minute to earn the visitors a point at Stamford Bridge.

Kane’s late goal was preceded by Romero’s altercation with Cucurella. When getting ready to attack a corner, the Argentina player pulled the Spaniard’s long, flowing locks somewhat roughly, and the VAR reviewed the judgment for violent conduct.

Nevertheless, he was found not guilty, and Tottenham went on to score from the ensuing corner. Later, VAR operator Mike Dean acknowledged that he ought to have directed the referee to the monitor so that he could review the situation.

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Speaking to The Times, Romero admitted that he wanted to exact ‘revenge’ on Cucurella after he left one in on his leg earlier in the match, but ultimately apologised for the hair-pull.

“That was all a bit exaggerated,” Romero said. “There was a bit of revenge because he’d injured me and I kept playing even though it was getting worse and I reacted badly.

“Of course I shouldn’t have reacted like that and I apologise for what happened. But it’s the first time I’ve been involved in something like that. I hope it doesn’t happen again.”

Romero would subsequently miss Spurs’ next three games through injury.

He has made 17 appearances in all competitions at club level this season either side of playing a starring role in Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup victory in Qatar.

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Chelsea Football Head Coach Graham Potter has revealed the main reason why Mateo Kovacic did not start for the Blues against Man United or Brentford.

Potter disclosed that Mateo Kovacic is still dealing with the knee problem that delayed his start to the season. As the Blues attempted to change their formation against Manchester United, the midfielder came on as an early substitution for Marc Cucurella.

The introduction of Kovacic allowed Chelsea to have a great deal more control as he joined Jorginho and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in midfield.

The Blues moved to a back four as Trevoh Chalobah and Thiago Silva made up a defensive pair when Cucurella was sacrificed for the change of shape.

It is the second time in as many matches that the Croatian star has been introduced in the opening half of football after Conor Gallagher needed to be replaced after 15 minutes against Brentford. The 28-year-old had a significant impact after entering the field with 36 minutes on the clock.

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It is also the second time Cucurella has been replaced when starting on the left side of the defence, though on this occasion it did not seem to be because of his individual performance, as much as how the team was able to perform.

The problem that caused Kovacic to miss Chelsea’s game against Tottenham in August before being gradually reintroduced to the team, it seems, is still with him.

Potter said in his press conference: “He’s been nursing his knee all season pretty much and you look at the schedule, it’s impossible for him to start all the games. We’ve planned for him to have less time but things have conspired against us”

 “Our sense in the game was that we were getting overrun and we needed an extra player in there to create more pressure and stop them building their attacks. It’s a feeling I had. It wasn’t an easy decision but the boys responded really well and gave everything.”

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Erik ten Hag and Graham Potter engaged in an exciting tactical duel that ended 1-1 at Stamford Bridge, with Casemiro giving Manchester United a point against Chelsea in stoppage time.

Despite the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, The Blues and Red Devil’s Premier League match at Stamford Bridge finished in a 1-1 draw thanks to Casemiro’s late equalizer that overturned Jorginho’s penalty.

United dominated the first half and put pressure on Chelsea, but they were rendered powerless as home goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga kept the score equal and Graham Potter made a tactical substitution, replacing Marc Cucurella with Mateo Kovacic and levelling the playing field.

Raphael Varane left the game in the 60th minute with an apparent injury, hiding his face with his jersey and raising concerns about his fitness for the World Cup coming up in a month.

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For the last 85 minutes, the game was tight, but Jorginho broke the deadlock with a classic penalty after Scott McTominay pulled down Armando Broja in the box.

It appeared to be the deciding goal until Casemiro latched onto a cross and headed it in the 94th minute. Arrizabalaga just about crossed the goal line after coming down off the post.

The result is the seventh straight draw between the rivals and United is now one point behind Chelsea in fourth place.

In addition, The Blues will travel to Salzburg for their Champions League on Tuesday before heading to Potter’s former club Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Red Devils will play Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League on Thursday, followed by a Super Sunday match against West Ham at Old Trafford.

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Chelsea football manager Graham Potter discusses why he took Kai Havertz and Marc Cucurella off at halftime in Chelsea’s victory.

In Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa, Graham Potter claims his choice to make a double replacement at halftime was solely tactical. He was thrilled with the results of his changes.

The Blues took an early lead at Villa Park on Sunday as a woeful header from Tyrone Mings allowed Mason Mount to stroke the ball past Emi Martinez, with the midfielder doubling the score – and wrapping up all three points – with a devilish free-kick in the second half.

Despite the straightforward result, The Blues had to deal with a lot of pressure, especially in the opening period. Kepa Arrizabalaga kept his team ahead with a series of excellent saves.

Potter decided to mix things up at the half-time break, taking off Marc Cucurella and Kai Havertz and replacing them with Kalidou Koulibaly and Cesar Azpilicueta as he switched to a flat back five.

That was no slight on the performances of Cucurella and Havertz, though, with Potter feeling that the side needed to tighten up at the back and in midfield.

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Asked about the changes, Potter told ChelseaTV after the game: ‘It was more tactically.

‘I thought we had to probably be a back five, more so, and be a bit stronger in the midfield area so we just had to adjust it. Sometimes [changes] go for you, sometimes they don’t. Credit to the players, they’re all ready to fight, they’re all ready to help the team.

‘So we’re in a good moment at the moment, but we know there’s another game coming.’

Conor Gallagher and Jorginho were both brought to strengthen Chelsea’s midfield as part of Potter’s two more substitutions, which came to either side of the hour mark.

With Gallagher in particular providing energy and bite, that pair enabled the west Londoners to finish the game in a pretty calm manner, and Potter was happy to see his substitutions have an impact.

Asked how good it was to see the likes of Jorginho and Gallagher contribute, Potter replied: ‘Yeah exactly, that’s what we speak about all the time.

‘Everybody wants to start, but sometimes it’s the ones who finish [the game] who are important. As I said, we’ve got another game on Wednesday, they come thick and fast, we need everybody. I’m pleased with the way the group is responding to that challenge, we’re in a good place and it’s important that whoever comes onto the pitch is ready to help the team.’

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