Xabi Alonso is losing one of his new players to his former club, as Real Madrid are purchasing Marc Cucurella from Chelsea.
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The move, said to be worth almost $70 million, is a big win for former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, as the Real manager gets one of the best playmaking fullbacks in the world.
It also leaves Alonso down an experienced player as he tries to turn a young Chelsea back into a contender for big prizes.
[Sky Sports says](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13554070/marc-cucurella-transfer-news-real-madrid-reach-agreement-to-sign-chelsea-full-back) the move will happen after the world club, and that Real won Cucurella over his boyhood club Barcelona as well as Manchester City and Atletico Madrid.
On any given day, Chelsea knew it had very good wide backs for its team with Cucurella and Reece James leading the way and Malo Gusto no slouch while Josh Acheampong and Jorrel Hato can also play out wide.
The problem also becomes one of leadership. The Blues could stll also lose Enzo Fernandez this summer and are green at so many positions.
Cole Palmer disappeared at times this season and at 24 doesn’t look like a vocal leader. James remains a captain and influential voice but is now the third oldest player on the team — yes really! — with Cucurella skipping town (Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and center back Tosin Adarabioyo are 28).
Young teams can get things done and new leaders are always being minted in the Premier League, but the big boys of the division all have more old heads than these Blues and that might be the difference in Chelsea’s hopes of a top four finish next season if they fail to address that elephant in the room.
As for Cucurella, he needed to leave Barca in order to make his name and he’s not afraid of crossing the divide to join the club’s eternal _Clasico_ rivals. But when Mourinho calls so early in a project, it’s difficult to say no.
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