Real Madrid summer signing wins over fans and teammates after just 161 minutes under Mourinho

Marc Cucurella did not have to wait long to make an impression at Real Madrid.

The 28-year-old summer signing had to wait until the third matchday of the 2026/27 La Liga season for his first start under Jose Mourinho.

However, by the time the final whistle was blown against Malaga, the Spanish full-back had already begun to establish himself as a popular figure within the dressing room and among the supporters.

Cucurella completed the full 90 minutes as Madrid secured a comfortable 4-0 victory over Malaga , following his second-half appearance in the 4-1 win against Real Sociedad.

Now, according to AS , the performance reinforced what had already been visible during his opening weeks at the club: Cucurella has arrived with the personality, intensity and reliability to fit into Mourinho's team.

The outlet mentions that Cucurella finished the Malaga match with 76 touches and 51 attempted passes, completing 46 of them for an 88.2% success rate.

He also created a scoring opportunity and was heavily involved defensively, making four tackles and recovering possession five times. He won an early aerial duel and blocked an opposition shot.

Notably, these statistics only tell part of the story.

The biggest reaction came from the stands, where Cucurella was applauded on several occasions.

His defensive work was also recognised by his teammates, who repeatedly acknowledged his contributions during the match.

As far as Mourinho is concerned, it is clear that the Portuguese manager wants his players to understand their defensive responsibilities, and Cucurella appears comfortable with the physical demands of that role.

He can defend against wingers, contribute in possession and still provide an attacking outlet from full-back.

That combination gives Mourinho a dependable option without requiring constant tactical adjustments.

A quick connection with the Madrid dressing room

Cucurella's adaptation has not been limited to what he does during matches.

Since arriving at Real Madrid, the defender has developed relationships within the squad and has regularly been seen joking with teammates during training.

His connection with Carlos Espi has been particularly noticeable, with the pair often together during warm-ups.

So far, Cucurella has played only 161 minutes across three appearances since joining Real Madrid, so it would be premature to make sweeping conclusions about his long-term role.

However, first impressions matter, and his have been difficult to improve upon.