What Cucurella, Silva, Konate add to Mourinho’s project at Real Madrid

Since hiring Jose Mourinho as coach in early June, Real Madrid have moved quickly to reinforce ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Los Blancos signed Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konate to reshape their squad after going two straight seasons without winning a major trophy.

AFP Sport looks at what the new additions can add and what might be next for the record 15-time European champions this summer.

Cucurella’s intensity

Real Madrid signed Chelsea left-back Cucurella for around 55 million euros ($63 million) on the day Spain played their first World Cup game.

It ensured their record of always having a player with La Roja at each World Cup continues.

The left side of defence has become something of a problem position for Madrid in recent seasons, with Ferland Mendy often injured, while Alvaro Carreras and Fran Garcia have not convinced.

Former Barca youth player Cucurella may not be a star name but is extremely competitive and will add grit and energy on the flank for a coach who values those attributes.

“We spoke and he told me he was looking forward to working with me, that I would adapt well and that Real Madrid is a great club,” Cucurella said of Mourinho in an interview with El Mundo.

The 27-year-old is at the peak of his career, presses well, is strong in transition and will make Madrid harder to beat.

Bernardo’s balance

Since midfield maestros Toni Kroos and Luka Modric left, Real Madrid have rarely been able to control games in midfield.

Arriving from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the end of his contract, Silva can add quality on the ball and footballing intelligence for a team which has sometimes been lacking in their build-up game.

Turning 32 in August, the Portugal international is experienced and versatile, able to play on the wing or in midfield, in both attacking and deep-lying roles.

Perhaps the value for Madrid will be in the latter, helping to construct the play alongside Frenchman Aurelien Tchouameni, bringing his knowledge from nearly a decade under the supervision of Guardiola.

Like Cucurella, Silva is a competitive character and his experience and leadership will be valuable for a Madrid side lacking in those areas last season.

Konate coverage

Arriving at the end of his contract with Liverpool, centre-back Konate reinforces an area where Madrid have often been caught short.

Tchouameni has had to drop back into defence on multiple occasions over the past few years, playing out of position because of injuries to Eder Militao and David Alaba.

The Austrian defender and captain Dani Carvajal are leaving this summer at the end of their contracts.

If Mourinho can get the best out of Konate, who struggled to hit his best form this season with Liverpool, they will have a defender who can handle some of Europe’s best strikers.

The 27-year-old France international said his form was impacted last season by the tragic death of Liverpool striker Diogo Jota and also his father’s passing in January.

Konate will battle with Antonio Rudiger, Militao, Dean Huijsen and Raul Asencio for minutes at the heart of Madrid’s defence.

What’s next?

Real Madrid are still looking for the final pieces of their puzzle for next season.

Los Blancos are reported to be close to signing Inter Milan right-back Denzel Dumfries, while Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez and Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise have also been linked.

Madrid put a 150 million euro ($172m) offer in for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez but more to fulfil a Florentino Perez election campaign pledge and disrupt rivals Barcelona’s plans than to truly try to bring the forward to the Santiago Bernabeu.

With most of their squad away at the World Cup it will be a while before the likes of Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe are under the command of Mourinho.

Even though Madrid have moved quickly to seal several deals at the start of the transfer window, there could be more players to come once the Portuguese coach starts working with his squad and identifies vital targets for next season.

AFP

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