Cucurella says Mourinho wants Madrid to train like Ronaldo
Real Madrid signing Marc Cucurella says Jose Mourinho wants every player to train like Cristiano Ronaldo, holding the club legend up as the benchmark for what a Madrid professional should be. Cucurella shared the message in an RMTV interview after joining sessions at Valdebebas, underscoring the mentality Mourinho is pressing after two trophy-less seasons.
The Spain and former Chelsea left-back is at the center of Madrid's summer overhaul. Fans and media have already dubbed the moment "Cucumanía" as he settles into white after a €55 million move from Stamford Bridge following five years in England.
Key Takeaways
- Cucurella told RMTV that Mourinho expects Madrid players to train the way Cristiano Ronaldo trained.
- The 27-year-old arrived from Chelsea for €55 million after winning the 2025 Club World Cup and the World Cup with Spain.
- Mourinho is targeting the professional standard Ronaldo embodied to rebuild a squad that has gone two seasons without silverware.
- Cucurella's left-back signing ends years of rotation at the position, with Fran García sold to Betis while Gonzalo Carreras remains as backup.
- Real Madrid open their LaLiga campaign against Espanyol as Mourinho faces pressure to halt Barcelona's momentum after the collapsed Rodri pursuit.
Why is Mourinho using Cristiano Ronaldo as a training benchmark?
In the club interview, Cucurella quoted Mourinho directly: "Mourinho wants us to train the way Cristiano Ronaldo trains. In fact, he takes him as a reference for what a Real Madrid player should be."
Goal.com notes the pairing is no surprise. Ronaldo remains Madrid's all-time top scorer and shares Portuguese nationality with Mourinho. The coach sees him as the model mentality for a dressing room that needs a reset after back-to-back seasons without trophies.
Mourinho has also tried to ease new arrivals. Cucurella said the manager "instilled a lot of confidence and reassurance" and urged players to lean on their strengths, enjoy the work, and chase the wins Madrid expects.
What did Cucurella say about wearing the Real Madrid shirt?
Cucurella framed the move as the reward for years of effort. "It is a great honour," he told RMTV. "I do not think many people can say they have worn this shirt."
He pointed to the legends who preceded him and called Madrid "the biggest club in Europe." The Catalan joined a revolutionary window that also brought Bernardo Silva and Yan Diomande as Florentino Pérez backs Mourinho's plan to slow Barcelona's rise — the same broad strategy the coach used during his first Bernabeu spell roughly a decade ago.
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How does Cucurella address Madrid's left-back problem?
Diario AS reports Madrid paid €55 million to lock Cucurella through 2032 after scouting him before the World Cup, where he helped Spain win a second star wearing No. 24. He debuted in preseason at Gelsenkirchen wearing provisional No. 17.
The position had rotated for years since Marcelo's 2022 exit — Fran García, Ferland Mendy, Gonzalo Carreras, and even Eduardo Camavinga all filled in. Mourinho now views Cucurella as the lock, with Fran García departing to Betis for €4 million while Carreras stayed as understudy.
AS adds Mourinho sees the full-back as a modern, aggressive, high-energy fit for 2026–27. That on-pitch profile aligns with the daily standard Cucurella says Mourinho is measuring against Ronaldo's old habits. Full details of the RMTV remarks were reported by Goal.com.
What's next for Real Madrid after Cucurella's arrival?
Madrid turn immediately to their LaLiga opener against Espanyol. A strong start would help soften fan frustration after midfielder Rodri chose Barcelona when a Bernabeu move collapsed.
Cucurella missed some early preseason travel after his World Cup break but rejoined for final tune-ups before the league campaign. Whether "Cucumanía" translates into trophies will depend on whether Mourinho's Ronaldo-era work ethic takes hold across the squad.