Marc Cucurella says the move to Real Madrid was one he and his family could not refuse. The deal was worth £51.8million and came with a six-year contract. He also says Chelsea were replaced by a club pull that made the decision straightforward, rather than something he had to sit and weigh up for long.

Why Cucurella says Real Madrid won him over

Speaking to football.london, Cucurella said: "Well, in the end, there were different options, but when the offer from Real Madrid came along, I didn't hesitate. I think it's a unique opportunity. Ultimately, playing for Real Madrid is an honour, and not many players can say that, so I had no doubts." That is the clearest version of why he moved, and it sits alongside his line that he and his family saw it as "an opportunity we couldn't refuse".

He also pointed to the club itself. Cucurella said Real Madrid have a "mystique" and described their comeback culture as something unusual, saying very few people can understand how they keep winning when they look on the ropes. That is the sort of pull clubs talk about and few actually get to act on. In this case, he did.

How the deal came together so fast

The pace of the move is almost as notable as the destination. Cucurella said it was "Sunday afternoon, more or less" when he was told everything was "more or less done", with only paperwork and signatures left. His read was that it was all sorted in "a day or a day and a half".

He also revealed a phone call from Jose Mourinho. Mourinho told him he was looking forward to working with him, said he would adapt well, and wished him luck at the World Cup before saying they would see each other in Madrid. That kind of call does not force a transfer, but it clearly helped sell the idea that he was wanted.

The timing mattered too. The announcement came hours before the Cape Verde match, which only added to the feeling that the move had been wrapped up quickly once it became realistic.

A wider market picture sits behind it as well. Ben Jacobs said Chelsea worked to find the best solution and viewed €55m+€5m as a strong fee, while Jorrel Hato's development last season was also cited as a factor in sanctioning the exit. Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League, so a summer reshuffle fits the broader picture better than a surprise. Real Madrid, by contrast, finished 2nd in La Liga, and the club's recent form of WWLWW points to a side still pushing forward rather than standing still.

For Cucurella, though, the explanation is simpler than the market noise around it. The opportunity was huge, the call from Mourinho helped, and the move was done quickly enough that he never sounded like a player needing convincing. If anything, Real Madrid sounded like the sort of offer he had already made up his mind about by the time the paperwork caught up.

FAQ

Why did Marc Cucurella choose Real Madrid so quickly?

Cucurella said he and his family saw the move as an opportunity they could not refuse. He also said he had no doubts once Real Madrid made the offer, and Mourinho’s call made him feel wanted.

How fast was Marc Cucurella's Real Madrid transfer agreed?

Cucurella said the deal was effectively sorted in a day or a day and a half. He added that there were still paperwork issues and signatures to settle, but nothing serious.

What fee did Real Madrid pay for Marc Cucurella?

The move is described as a £51.8million deal, and he signed a six-year contract with Real Madrid.

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