1 hour ago
Marc Cucurella has admitted that he had not expected to time off Chelsea and that his £52m signing for Real Madrid was done successful a time and a half. The Spain left-back besides defended himself against nan backlash from Barcelona fans, insisting that though he was calved and raised successful Catalonia and joined nan Barça academy aged 14, he could not move down Real Madrid. “I americium very happy,” nan 27-year-old said – if possibly not arsenic happy arsenic his wife, Claudia, whose full family are Madrid supporters.
“It was each very fast,” Cucurella said from Spain’s training guidelines successful Chattanooga, Tennessee. “I sewage a telephone telephone 1 morning. My group told maine nan 2 clubs had nan position mostly agreed and that I had to determine if I wanted to spell there. I had nary doubts. It is simply a large measurement for me, very important successful my career. It each happened successful astir a time and a half. For me, that was nan champion thing, truthful it could beryllium each done and I could support my attraction on nan World Cup.”
The full-back added: “If you had asked maine a fewer months ago, I would astir apt person told you I didn’t expect to time off Chelsea. I was very happy there, my family too. But successful life and shot sometimes you request to alteration and commencement chapters you did not expect. It’s not easy to time off Chelsea. I lived location for 4 years and I deliberation I arrived arsenic a young kid. I dreamt of winning trophies and Chelsea gave maine nan chance. I’m very grateful to what they gave me. But nan situation now is bigger. I tin travel backmost to my state and play for Real Madrid which is 1 of nan champion clubs successful nan world. It was not an easy determination but nan correct 1 for maine and my family.
“When this happens it is usually a very agelong process, and 1 that does not only dangle connected me. A batch of things are factored in, and nan champion point that could hap was Madrid coming successful to motion maine truthful convincingly. It didn’t travel retired anyplace [in nan media] and by nan clip it did, it was each done. Being astatine a World Cup while you person different worldly going connected successful your caput it’s not easy. So I americium very happy it was each resolved very speedy truthful I tin now beryllium 100% focused connected nan World Cup.”
Cucurrella talked to José Mourinho, Madrid’s returning caput coach. “We had a chat. I was very happy. Having a head for illustration Mourinho calling you and saying he can’t hold to activity pinch you gives you a batch of confidence. It was a speedy chat, to beryllium honest: I did not want to displacement my attraction distant from Spain duty, but what I liked a batch is that he remembered a batch of things from nan crippled I played against him for Chelsea against Benfica successful nan Champions League. He insisted that he believes I tin adhd a batch to nan squad and nan dressing room. That conscionable gave maine much confidence.”
Asked astir nan anger from Barcelona fans, Cucurella replied: “I person to respect everyone’s opinions. I americium very thankful for everything I person knowledgeable successful my profession and what I learnt successful La Masia. But there’s different chapters successful life and I thought this was nan correct measurement for me. When Madrid comes for you, it is very difficult to opportunity no. I did not uncertainty that this was nan measurement maine and my family wanted to take.
“Pressure will beryllium high, but erstwhile you move to a nine for illustration this what you want is to conflict for titles. I americium fresh for that. My profession has not been easy. Now having nan chance to play for Real Madrid is simply a awesome measurement to apical my profession off. [My wife] and her family were ever Madrid fans. When she met me, I conjecture you extremity surviving shot arsenic you did – arsenic a instrumentality – and commencement reasoning much astir what’s champion for you because successful nan extremity this is simply a business and not everything is really you imagined. She will beryllium very happy. Who would person imagined that her partner would beryllium a Madrid player? She has been location successful reliable moments and now I americium happy we tin bask this together.”
