Transfers
Real Madrid near €50m deal for Marc Cucurella
Real Madrid are close to completing the signing of Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella for an estimated €50 million, with only paperwork remaining. The agreement is understood to be verbal and at an advanced stage.
Cucurella’s arrival is expected to trigger a reshuffle among Real Madrid’s three current left-backs – Alvaro Carreras, Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia – as the club signals openness to offers for them. The Spanish defender is projected to sign a four‑year contract. The accompanying image of Cucurella is credited to Alex Grimm.
Coach Jose Mourinho is reported to want Cucurella and Alvaro Carreras to compete for the left‑back role, keeping Carreras highly valued despite speculation about his own future. Carreras, a former Benfica starlet, remains highly regarded by Mourinho. Ferland Mendy’s injury is expected to keep him out until around November, making a sale difficult, while Fran Garcia’s contract runs until 2027 with no renewal talks, leaving his future most uncertain.
Fran Garcia, a former Rayo Vallecano defender, previously attracted interest from AFC Bournemouth in January, an attempt blocked by club president Florentino Perez. With Cucurella set to join, Garcia is expected to depart Los Blancos, while any decision on Mendy will wait until 2027. A photo of Garcia is credited to Florencia Tan Jun.