MADRID/LONDON: Marc Cucurella has officially joined Real Madrid just hours before his opening World Cup game with Spain, raising the question of whether his former Chelsea team-mate Enzo Fernandez follows.

The 27-year-old defender was the subject of a deal worth up to £51.8m on Sunday evening, with the transfer announced swiftly on Monday morning. A similar scenario could now develop with Fernandez.

Much depends on Madrid’s willingness to spend a significant fee on the midfielder, who is valued by Chelsea at £120m.

After winning the European Championship with Spain, along with the Conference League and Club World Cup at Chelsea, Cucurella appeared to be an integral part of the side under former manager Enzo Maresca. However, his form dipped under Maresca’s mid-season replacement, Liam Rosenior, and – amid a run of poor results – Cucurella criticised the managerial uncertainty and the running of the club more broadly.

Cucurella was, however, one of Chelsea’s most consistent performers over the last two seasons and his departure will reduce the average age of a squad already the youngest in the Premier League.

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