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José Mourinho personally pushed for the summer acquisition of Marc Cucurella from Chelsea and played a central role in driving the deal forward.
Madrid have completed six first-team additions this summer as part of an extensive rebuild following two trophy-less seasons. Alongside Cucurella's arrival, Madrid have recruited Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, Carlos Espí, and new club-record signing Yan Diomande for a combined outlay exceeding €200 million ($230 million)—the highest amount spent by Los Blancos in a single transfer window since 2019.
Nevertheless, it is the €60 million ($70 million) move for Cucurella that Mourinho is reported to have been absolutely determined to complete.
The left back position has been a persistent concern at the Bernabéu since Marcelo's departure from the club. Ferland Mendy, a trusted figure under both Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti for his defensive contributions, has been plagued by injury problems, while last summer's €50 million ($57.75 million) signing Álvaro Carreras has largely fallen short of expectations.
Mourinho Moved Fast for Left Back Priority
The announcement of Cucurella's signing on June 15, just four days after Mourinho's official reappointment, came as a surprise to many.
According to MARCA, the newly installed manager personally pinpointed Cucurella as the solution to Madrid's positional problem. He reportedly told club officials that Cucurella was the only player he wanted for that role.
The report also states that Mourinho personally reached out to the former Barcelona left back to persuade him, saying "I want you in my project, it's you or nobody." The entire deal was wrapped up within just 48 hours.
Cucurella went on to play a pivotal role in Spain's World Cup triumph in North America, featuring from the start in all eight of his nation's games.
Cucurella Reveals He Had 'Options'
🤍📷 @cucurella3 pic.twitter.com/6h8uUEVrEw
Real Madrid's new left back, recently assigned the number 17 shirt for the upcoming campaign, had previously disclosed that Real Madrid were not the only club pursuing him this summer, but that Mourinho's persuasive approach was key in convincing him to make the switch.
"There were other options available, but when Real Madrid's offer arrived, I didn't think twice," he told El Mundo.
"I believe it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Mourinho told me he was genuinely excited about working with me, that I would fit in very well, and that Real Madrid is a truly great club. I was struck by the fact that he had watched my matches from last season and clearly explained what he expected from me."
Cucurella, who spent four seasons at Chelsea, is set to be Madrid's first-choice left back this season, with Carreras and Mendy serving as backup options, while Fran García has moved to Real Betis.