Real Madrid eye shock move for Chelsea flop

Tom Weber

Updated: 26 Sept 2023 10:56 BST
4 min read

Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid — © ProShots

Chelsea flop Marc Cucurella could be set for a January move to Real Madrid, according to a report.

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The left-back has had a torrid time at Stamford Bridge. A €65 million arrival last summer, not even his former Brighton boss Graham Potter could get the best out of the Spaniard at Chelsea.

To add insult to injury, the defender's house was burgled, which only compounded his misery. Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Manchester City tried to strike a "secret" deal for Cucurella in January, but the talks collapsed.

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In the summer, it was Manchester United's turn to give signing the former Seagulls star a go. With Luke Shaw having suffered a long-term injury, the Red Devils looked to Cucurella to deputise for the England defender, yet here too the talks eventually collapsed as Man Utd were keen on inserting a break clause in his deal that would have allowed them to end the loan in January.

Cucurella remained with Chelsea, but new boss Mauricio Pochettino has barely utilised the 25-year-old. He has not played a single minute of Premier League football this season, only featuring in the EFL Cup against Wimbledon.

January exit

A January move away - be it on loan or permanently - appears to be the only way for him to end his Chelsea nightmare. Indeed, returning to his home country could be one way of getting his career back on track.

Unlikely as it seems, it is claimed that Real Madrid could be his January destination. Los Blancos are said to be "quietly monitoring his situation with a view to a possible loan as cover for the second half of the season."

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And a move would actually make sense. Though Fran Garcia has enjoyed a solid start to life back at the Bernabeu, his backup Ferland Mendy could be heading for the exit in the winter, having barely featured thus far.

Cucurella would provide cover not only for Garcia but also at centre-back, potentially for David Alaba who endured a horror performance in the derby against Atletico at the weekend.