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  "path": "/2026/06/14/real-madrid-jose-mourinho-strike-verbal-agreement-sign-wantaway-chelsea-star-28774180/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-14T16:14:22.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Chelsea FC",
    "Chelsea transfer news",
    "Jose Mourinho",
    "Marc Cucurella",
    "Real Madrid",
    "Real Madrid transfer news",
    "Transfer News and Rumours",
    "Chelsea",
    "Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United and Los Blancos have all credited with a strong interest",
    "Cucurella went public with his frustrations surrounding key decisions being made at Stamford Bridge",
    "Sign up here",
    "Fabrizio Romano",
    "‘out of nowhere’",
    "played down speculation that he was unhappy at Chelsea and keen to leave the west London outfit",
    "Alonso was unable to rule out the possibility of Chelsea cashing in on Joao Pedro, Enzo Fernandez or Cucurella",
    "check our sport page",
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  ],
  "textContent": "Marc Cucurella will be playing under Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid next season (Picture: Getty)\n\nReal Madrid have reportedly struck a verbal agreement to sign Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella.\n\nCucurella’s future has been the subject of intense speculation in recent weeks, and Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United and Los Blancos have all credited with a strong interest.\n\nIt comes after Cucurella went public with his frustrations surrounding key decisions being made at Stamford Bridge, with the 27-year-old questioning the dismissal of former manager Enzo Maresca while also pointing to a lack of experience in the dressing room.\n\nBarca, where Cucurella rose through the academy ranks as a youngster, were thought to have wrestled themselves into pole position for the left-back, six years on from his departure at the Camp Nou.\n\n##  It's finally here\n\nGet everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day. Sign up here.\n\nHowever, bitter rivals Madrid have leapfrogged the La Liga champions in this summer’s fiercely contested transfer race – and it appears a certainty that Cucurella has played his final match for Chelsea.\n\nAccording to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Madrid now – ‘out of nowhere’ – have a verbal agreement in place with all parties, including Cucurella himself, and the full-back will complete his move once Spain’s involvement at the World Cup has concluded.\n\nIt’s claimed Madrid have agreed to pay ‘more than €50million (£43m)’ to land the sought-after Euro 2024 winner.\n\nMadrid have reached a verbal agreement to sign the Chelsea and Spain full-back (Picture: Getty)\n\nLos Blancos have agreed to pay in excess of £43m for the 27-year-old (Picture: Getty)\n\nJose Mourinho is said to have made it clear to Madrid’s hierarchy that Cucurella was his favoured target at left-back, with a host of high-profile names linked to the Bernabeu on the back of the club’s disappointing campaign.\n\nRecent reports indicated Chelsea would be demanding a fee in the region of €70million (£61m) for Cucurella.\n\nTo rub further salt in the wound for Chelsea fans, Enzo Fernandez – who has also been heavily linked with Real Madrid – ‘liked’ Romano’s post on Instagram announcing Cucurella’s impending exit.\n\nChelsea midfielder Fernandez ‘liked’ Romano’s post on Instagram\n\nPrior to Spain’s World Cup opener with Cape Verde, Cucurella **played down speculation that he was unhappy at Chelsea and keen to leave the west London outfit**.\n\n‘Right now I don’t want to talk about that,’ Cucurella told El Partidazo de COPE.\n\n‘It’s true that I’m very happy where I am, I’m very happy, my family is very happy.\n\nCucurella is currently away on international duty at the World Cup (Picture: Getty)\n\n‘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.’\n\nAsked further whether 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.\n\n‘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.’\n\nBut despite Cucurella’s glowing praise, appears Alonso will not be given the chance to manage his fellow countryman next season.\n\nLast 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.\n\nInstead, the former Liverpool midfielder reassured Chelsea fans that he would be doing everything in his power to ‘make a good team’.\n\n‘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.\n\n**For more stories like this, check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook,** Twitter and Instagram**.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho strike ‘verbal agreement’ to sign wantaway Chelsea star"
}