The transfer bombshell of the summer has finally detonated, and it is the most bitter of pills for the Camp Nou faithful to swallow. According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella has verbally agreed to a move to Real Madrid post-World Cup, with Romano having already given his infamous "Here we go!" seal of approval.
The 27-year-old is set to make the switch to the Bernabeu for a reported €60 million (£51.8m), and while Los Blancos would be getting themselves a premium player, the real story behind the transfer is the astonishing, unadulterated betrayal of Cucurella’s Catalan roots.
The ultimate betrayal: a true Cule is bought off
Not only was Cucurella born in Catalonia but he spent years honing his footballing skills at La Masia, and even featured for Barcelona's first team. Only recently, the player proclaimed himself to be a "true Cule", and, on that basis, was considered by many to possess the intrinsic loyalty which embodies most Barcelona academy products.
For a player who so recently publicly declared his affection for the Blaugrana to be willing to link up with Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, there simply isn’t enough words to describe the sheer, comedic scale of the insult.
I can hardly blame the Camp Nou faithful for being incensed; frankly, no player would ever feel remotely comfortable proudly declaring their undying loyalty for Barca whilst donning the white colours of our bitter rivals.
This decision not only demolishes his career in Catalunya forever but also obliterates any remaining goodwill that Barcelona may have held in their hearts towards the former youth academy prodigy.
Why Barcelona turned their back on a move
Perhaps the sting of this deal is all the greater for the fact that a return to the Camp Nou was very much on the cards. Cucurella had made it known that he wished to leave Chelsea in the summer and Barcelona, along with Atletico Madrid, were heavily rumoured to be pursuing the left-back with vigour.
However, Joan Laporta and Deco wisely decided not to enter into a mega-money bidding war for the 27-year-old and let Florentino Perez and Real Madrid do so. The Portuguese boss of the Bernabeu put in an explicit request for the player which subsequently saw the package rise to €55m + €5m in add-ons.
In pure financial terms, €60m on a 27-year-old left-back wouldn't make a jot of sense and therefore Barcelona cannot be criticised in the slightest for refusing to be priced out and paying for the service of such a fickle player.
The Mourinho factor and Chelsea’s chaotic demise
This move was seemingly inevitable since March when Cucurella voiced his dissatisfaction with Chelsea’s inexperience and transfer policy following their elimination from the Champions League at the hands of PSG. He later admitted in early spring to flirting with the idea of another spell at Chelsea under head coach Xabi Alonso but the colossal sum of money on offer from the capital would not be refused.
Mourinho has desperately been seeking reinforcement at left-back this summer. The Portuguese manager targeted Cucurella as his target, after missing out on Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol.
Més que un club
Real Madrid have, no doubt, landed themselves a very talented, albeit expensive, defender. However, the truth is that they have bought themselves a player who values money more than any affiliation.
Marc Cucurella has made his choice and, when he steps onto the hallowed turf of the Bernabeu post-World Cup, Barcelona will have undoubtedly struck him off their La Masia honours list. Let him enjoy the money, and Barcelona will go for a player who has a genuine understanding of what it means to play for this badge.
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