Chelsea full-back Marc Cucurella has said that it would be very hard to turn down a chance to go back to Barcelona. The 27-year-old La Masia graduate said this before Spain’s friendly against Egypt at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium in Barcelona.
He started out in Espanyol’s youth system and then moved to the famous La Masia academy in 2012. He only played one senior game for the Catalan giants, a short substitute appearance in the Copa del Rey. After that, he went on loan to Eibar and Getafe, before moving to Brighton. The Spaniard joined Chelsea in August 2022. Since then, he has won the Conference League, the FIFA Club World Cup, and Euro 2024 with Spain.
The defender was open with Marca about how he feels about his home country:
“Spain is always Spain. It is where I grew up, and you always think about going back. But I would [prefer to] leave it for a few years down the line. I am very happy here, and it is a great life experience.”
When asked directly about Barcelona’s offer, Cucurella did not hold back:
“It is clear if that situation did arise, it is hard to turn down, but I would have to consider it in the end. It is not just me. I also have to think about my family, and together we would have to decide what’s best for us.”
Cucurella has played in 27 Premier League games this season, scoring one goal and setting up three others. He has also completed 88% of his passes. He is reportedly worth around £62 million on the market right now and is under contract with Chelsea until 2028.
Cucurella did say, though, that Chelsea have had some problems lately, especially their exit from the Champions League. He said that the team are still a long way from competing at the highest level. The Blues are in sixth place in the Premier League with 48 points and are trying to qualify for Europe.
Cucurella Not On Barcelona’s Left-Back Shortlist Despite Return Hopes
Chelsea defender Cucurella is not on Barcelona’s list of left-back options for the upcoming summer window, even though he is open to returning to Camp Nou.
Reports revealed that Barcelona are thinking about getting more options left-back because they aren’t sure what will happen with Alejandro Balde and Gerard Martin. Alejandro Grimaldo, Andrea Cambiaso, and Lewis Hall are the main targets for the Catalan club.
Jorge Mendes, Balde’s agent, has already discussed possible ways for Balde to leave. Several Premier League teams, including Manchester United and Manchester City, are interested in the 22-year-old.
Cucurella’s £62 million price tag and Barcelona’s well-known financial problems make a move this summer unlikely unless things change significantly. For now, the Spanish player will focus on the FIFA World Cup and Chelsea’s upcoming games, the first of which is an FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale on April 4.