Reports claim Chelsea are happy with how Marc Cucurella’s £51.8m departure to Real Madrid played out this summer. The 27-year-old Spain international had reportedly stated he wanted to go back to his home country for personal and family reasons.
The marauding full-back arrived in west London from Brighton four years ago for a fee of around £62m. He went on to make 163 appearances for the Blues, winning the Conference League and the Club World Cup in a largely productive spell. Real Madrid have since tied the defender to a six-year contract that will keep him in the Spanish capital until 2032.
The full-back is also part of Spain’s squad for this summer’s 2026 World Cup. So his homecoming comes at a buoyant personal moment even if Chelsea supporters will feel a tinge of sadness at his departure.
Chelsea privately view the €55m plus €5m deal, which is around £51.8m, as a good return for a player entering his late twenties. The sale is believed to have been sanctioned due to the rapid development of Dutchman Jorrel Hato last season. With the gifted youngster looking to earn regular minutes, the club felt comfortable cashing in on the experienced campaigner.
The Blues want to add at least two starting-quality players who can compete straight away in the demanding Premier League. The London club’s recruitment team will be busy for the rest of this transfer window. Cucurella, meanwhile, will be hoping to find his very best form back on familiar Spanish soil next season.
Barco in queue to replace Cucurella from Strasbourg
As one Spaniard leaves, reports suggest Argentina international Valentin Barco is set to join from sister club Strasbourg at Stamford Bridge. The 21-year-old versatile defender departed Brighton as a struggling full-back before joining the French side on a permanent deal for about £7.87m last summer. He will join a large contingent of new BlueCo arrivals including Geovany Quenda, Emmanuel Emegha, Dastan Satpaev and Denner.
Under former Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, the youngster reinvented himself impressively, moving from left-back into an inventive midfield role. He has had a stand-out campaign this term, netting three goals and nine assists in his outings. That gives some idea as to why Chelsea are so keen to get him signed up to a long-term contract.
Barco has been central for the most part but is comfortable playing on the left flank. That flexibility could see him handed the left wing-back berth that Cucurella has now vacated altogether. It will then be up to incoming head coach Xabi Alonso, officially in charge from July 1, to decide where the Argentine goes next.