ไทย
English
中國人
Real Madrid have officially announced the acquisition of left back Marc Cucurella from Chelsea.
The Spanish international had been strongly linked with both Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, but Real Madrid's pursuit emerged on Sunday and a rapid 24-hour period has seen a move to the Bernabéu completed.
Reports indicate Madrid have agreed a deal worth as much as $69.4 million (£51.8 million, €60 million), with the bulk of the fee guaranteed, for the 27-year-old, who has penned a six-year deal with José Mourinho's squad.
"Everyone at Chelsea FC would like to thank Marc for his contributions during his time at the club and for the part he played in our recent successes," a Chelsea statement said.
"We wish him all the best as he embarks on the next chapter of his career."
Cucurella's Potential Shirt Numbers at Real Madrid
Cucurella has sported several different shirt numbers throughout his career, starting with 24 in Barcelona's youth academy. That number clearly holds special meaning for the left back, who heads into this summer's World Cup wearing 24 on his back for Spain.
In senior football, Cucurella began with 36 at Barcelona, before switching to 20 at Eibar and 15 at Getafe. Upon joining the Premier League with Brighton & Hove Albion, he moved to 3.
The No. 3 shirt was unavailable for Cucurella when he arrived at Chelsea, as it was already claimed by Marcos Alonso, so he opted for 32 in his first season. However, once the 3 became free, he wasted no time making the switch, donning that number for his final three seasons at Stamford Bridge.
It would be natural for Cucurella to pursue the 3 shirt again in Madrid, but that number is currently held by Éder Militão, who took it for the 2019–20 season.
Adding further complexity for Cucurella are La Liga's squad number regulations, which require all senior players to wear numbers between 1 and 25, with 1, 13 and 25 reserved exclusively for goalkeepers. This means the 32 shirt he wore during his opening season at Chelsea is simply not an option.
The 24 is also already assigned to Dean Huijsen, meaning Cucurella will likely need to settle on a new shirt number altogether.
Available Shirt Numbers at Real Madrid
Number | Last Worn by |
|---|---|
2 | Dani Carvajal |
4 | David Alaba |
9 | Endrick |
Shirt Numbers That Could Become Available
There are clearly limited options for Cucurella at present, especially with Ibrahima Konaté and Denzel Dumfries also requiring numbers. However, that picture could shift considerably.
A number of Madrid players are facing uncertain futures this summer, and their potential departures would open up additional shirt numbers for the incoming signings.
Militão's hold on the 3 is far from secure following several injury-disrupted campaigns, while Eduardo Camavinga's 6 could be freed up if reports of a possible departure prove accurate. Gonzalo García, who wears 16, is anticipated to depart ahead of Endrick's expected return, and centre back Raúl Asencio could vacate the 17 should he move on. Dani Ceballos's 19 looks almost certain to become available in the near future.
Madrid may also look to move on one of the three senior left backs already at the club. Álvaro Carreras wears 18 and Fran García wears 20, and it appears likely that one of the pair will be shown the door to make way for Cucurella. Ferland Mendy, who holds the 23 shirt, is expected to miss most of the coming season through injury.