Marc Cucurella's partner has suggested she is struggling to cope with his £52million transfer away from Chelsea after his exit was confirmed in a rapid turnaround on Monday morning.

Spain left back Cucurella, 27, is returning to his homeland to join Real Madrid after their new manager, Jose Mourinho, not only suddenly entered the race but rapidly won it with the package agreed ahead of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Just hours before Cucurella had repeated several times in media interviews that he did not want to be distracted by club news while away at the World Cup and added that he had spoken with Chelsea's new manager Xabi Alonso and had taken a great deal of confidence from that conversation.

But now the transfer has been confirmed by both Chelsea and Real Madrid. And Cucurella's long-term partner Claudia Rodriguez appears to be the most shocked by a move that will see their young family leave England after five years in the Premier League at Brighton and then Chelsea.

Posting on Instagram she wrote: 'I don't know how to say goodbye to my home.'

She added: 'Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this experience; I feel so lucky for everything we've shared these past years. I arrived with two babies and I'm leaving with two little boys and a British girl, and I don't know how I'm going to explain to them that Chelsea is no longer part of our lives.

'Everything we've experienced these past years has been a pure learning experience; we've lived through it all, but above all, we've enjoyed this journey. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this chapter of our lives, thank you to my girls, whom I'm going to miss a lot, and thank you to every Blue I've met. I wish you all the best; London will always be Blue.'

Claudia had formed key friendships among Chelsea's WAGs group - notably with the partners of Enzo Fernandez, Joao Pedro and Pedro Neto. She was a regular in a box in Stamford Bridge's West Stand.

Cucurella has previously opened up on his family's difficulties after his son Mateo was diagnosed with autism. The diagnosis came shortly before he joined Chelsea in a £65m transfer in 2022 and the player endured a difficult start at Stamford Bridge.

Clarifying that the views posted today were her own, Claudia added: 'The previous photo, in case it needs emphasizing, IS ME. On the other hand, I'm exploding with pride and happiness!! Let the adventure begin.'

Cucurella will cost €55m (£47.4m) up front, with a further €5m (£4.3m) in achievable add-ons. 

The Euro 2024 winner had spoken up over the last season on decisions made at Chelsea which he did not agree with, such as the New Year's Day departure of head coach, Enzo Maresca.

That sparked speculation that he had grown disillusioned with life at Stamford Bridge. Cucurella avoided being punished for speaking up, unlike Enzo Fernandez, who spent time flirting with the idea of living in Madrid and received an internal two-match suspension.

A social media post confirming that Real Madrid had agreed a deal for Cucurella was liked by Fernandez.

In the club's farewell message, a Blues' spokesperson thanked him for his efforts at the club, and wished him 'every success' in the 'next stage of his career'.

Daily Mail Sport previously reported how the full back was among those in line to leave the club this summer, after they missed out on European football for next term under Alonso.

He departs with three years remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge.

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