Spanish international Juan Cucurella's transfer to Real Madrid is described as "a bigger step."

Real Madrid have officially announced the signing of 27-year-old Spanish left-back Marc Cucurella on a six-year contract.

This deal is one of the key moves by new manager José Mourinho to overhaul Real Madrid's squad and strengthen the team for next season.

Cucurella, a product of Barcelona's youth academy, previously played for Chelsea. He is currently with the Spanish national team in the United States preparing for the 2026 World Cup. At a press conference on Thursday, he admitted that the transfer decision was very decisive.

At the press conference, Cucurella said: "If you had asked me a few months ago, I would have said I didn't expect to leave Chelsea. Leaving Chelsea wasn't easy... but I think this step toward Real Madrid is much bigger. Real Madrid is one of the best clubs in the world, and this is a step I need to take."

Cucurella's move to arch-rivals Real Madrid, after being a product of Barcelona's youth academy, has drawn criticism from some Barcelona fans online. In response, Cucurella stated, "You have to respect people's opinions."

“I am very grateful for everything the Barcelona youth academy has given me. But like everything in life, there are stages. When a team like Real Madrid comes to you, it’s hard to refuse. I have no doubt that this is the right step.”

Furthermore, Cucurella revealed that the transfer progressed very quickly, allowing him to focus on national team matches. He stated that he had already spoken with new manager Mourinho by phone, which gave him a lot of confidence.

When asked about Real Madrid's signings, Cucurella joked, "Hopefully we'll report to Real Madrid as late as possible, because that would mean we've reached the World Cup final."

Currently, the Spanish team is under considerable pressure after being held to a 0-0 draw by Cape Verde in the first round of Group H. They will face Saudi Arabia this Sunday.

Image source: Internet/BBC official website