A leading member of the summer recruitment drive at La Liga giants Real Madrid is primed for his first starting berth in the club’s colours this weekend. The Blancos star in question? Marc Cucurella.

Defender Cucurella of course made the call to take his talents back to his home country of Spain earlier this summer. Identified by the incoming José Mourinho as an important signing, the Chelsea man showcased little hesitation in committing the prime years of his career to Real Madrid.

After a late return from his summer vacation owing to his starring exploits at the World Cup, Cucurella has since gone on to feature off the bench in both of Los Merengues’ La Liga fixtures to open the new season.

But as alluded to above, on Sunday, the 28-year-old has been pencilled in for a place in his new club’s starting XI.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of guiding Real Madrid into a league meeting with Málaga on Sunday, José Mourinho was drawn on his left-back dilemma: Cucurella vs Álvaro Carreras.

And the Portuguese tactician went on to confirm:

”Cucurella will start against Málaga.”