Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has expressed his support for Marc Cucurella amid reports that the Chelsea left-back is on the verge of joining Real Madrid. The 27-year-old has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge after reportedly handing in a transfer request, with Real Madrid now leading the race.
De la Fuente's Reaction
Speaking ahead of Spain's World Cup opener against Cape Verde, De la Fuente dismissed any concerns over Cucurella's focus. 'I know all the players very well, I know their commitment and professionalism,' he said. 'We've already experienced this at the European Championship with other players. We handled it with ease and normalcy.'
The Spain boss added: 'We celebrate if it's good news for Cucu. And if something else comes up during the tournament with another teammate and it's good news for him, then we celebrate that too. What is good for one of my players is good for the team as a whole.'
Transfer Details
Reports suggest Real Madrid have reached a verbal agreement with Chelsea for Cucurella, with a fee of €55 million (£47.5m) plus €5m (£4.3m) in bonuses. The move is expected to be finalized after Spain's World Cup campaign. Cucurella, who previously played for Brighton, has also been linked with Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, and Manchester United.
Cucurella's Recent Comments
Just a day before the transfer news broke, Cucurella played down speculation about his unhappiness at Chelsea. 'Right now I don't want to talk about that,' he told El Partidazo de COPE. 'It's true that I'm very happy where I am, my family is very happy. Whatever you do, don't drive me crazy with transfer questions.'
He also spoke positively about Xabi Alonso, who has been linked with the Chelsea job. 'I've spoken with him and he inspired a lot of confidence in me. The project seems very interesting,' Cucurella said.
Alonso's Stance
Last month, Alonso was unable to rule out the possibility of Chelsea selling key players like Cucurella. 'This is football, and we'll make a good team,' he said, reassuring fans that he would do everything to build a strong squad.
Cucurella's potential move to Real Madrid would reunite him with newly appointed manager Jose Mourinho, who has made the left-back a priority target. The Spain international is regarded as one of the best full-backs in world football, and his addition would bolster Madrid's defensive options.
