Claudia Rodriguez, the girlfriend of Marc Cucurella, has posted an emotional farewell to Chelsea supporters, saying she does not know how to explain to her children that the defender is leaving Stamford Bridge for Real Madrid.
“I don't know how to say goodbye to my home,” she wrote on Instagram. “I arrived with two babies and I'm leaving with two little boys and a British girl, and I don't know how I'm going to explain to them that Chelsea is no longer part of our lives.”
“Marc Cucurella's girlfriend posts emotional farewell as Real Madrid confirm £51.8m signing from Chelsea.”
The message came just hours after Real Madrid officially announced the signing of the 27-year-old Spain left-back on a six-year deal, until June 30, 2032, in a package worth up to £51.8m (€60m). The transfer, which includes an initial £47.5m with £4.3m in add-ons, was agreed on Sunday and confirmed on Monday morning. Cucurella is currently with Spain at the World Cup in the United States, preparing to face Cape Verde.
His departure follows a turbulent season at Chelsea. After winning the European Championship with Spain, the Conference League and the Club World Cup, Cucurella saw his form dip under interim manager Liam Rosenior. During the March international break, he publicly criticised Chelsea’s hierarchy, blaming “inexperience” for a Champions League thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain and raising misgivings over Enzo Maresca’s departure. Unlike team-mate Enzo Fernandez, who made similar comments, Cucurella was not formally punished.
Despite having spoken to incoming boss Xabi Alonso and saying he was “attracted” to the project, Cucurella opted to leave. Chelsea, who finished 10th and missed out on European qualification, regarded the offer as the right time to cash in on the player they signed for £63m from Brighton in 2022.
Real Madrid, who have appointed Jose Mourinho as manager after two trophyless years, are also bolstering their defence with moves for Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konaté and Bernardo Silva. The question now is whether they will pursue a second Chelsea player: Enzo Fernandez. The Argentina midfielder, valued by Chelsea at £120m, has made little secret of his desire to join Madrid. Florentino Perez hinted at a potential signing worth 150m euros (£129.6m) after having a bid at that value rejected for Julian Alvarez, suggesting those funds could be used for Fernandez. Chelsea, under new manager Alonso, would be content to keep the midfielder, who contributed 15 goals and seven assists last season and is under contract until 2032.