Chelsea’s Spanish left-back has become one of the club’s most reliable performers. Marc Cucurella has established himself as a regular at Stamford Bridge despite the club’s ongoing instability. This story of resilience and adaptability has made him a fan favourite. Therefore, let us explore the latest news surrounding the 27-year-old defender.
Cucurella joined Chelsea from Brighton for £60 million in August 2022. He has since made 154 appearances across all competitions for the Blues. This journey through his career reveals a player who has fought through adversity at every turn. The chapter of his time at Chelsea has been anything but straightforward.
Barcelona Return: Cucurella Admits It Would Be ‘Hard to Turn Down’
Marc Cucurella has admitted that an offer to return to Barcelona would be difficult to refuse. The Spanish defender came through Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy. He made just one senior appearance for the Catalan giants, a substitute outing in the Copa del Rey during 2017 [citation:1][citation:5].
After loan spells at Eibar and a permanent move to Getafe, Cucurella joined Brighton in 2021. His impressive debut Premier League season earned him the big-money move to Chelsea. When asked about a potential return to his homeland, Cucurella spoke openly about the possibility [citation:1].
“Spain is always Spain,” he told The Athletic. “It is where I grew up and you always think about going back. But I would leave it for a few years down the line. I am very happy here and it is a great life experience” [citation:1].
Pushed specifically on Barcelona, he added: “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” [citation:5][citation:6].
Chelsea’s Instability: Cucurella Speaks Out on Managerial Chaos
Cucurella has played under five different permanent managers since joining Chelsea. Enzo Maresca took over in 2024 and guided the Blues to a top-four finish. He also delivered the Club World Cup title and success in the Conference League during 2025 [citation:5].
However, Chelsea sacked Maresca on New Year’s Day. Liam Rosenior, who was managing Strasbourg, took over following the Italian’s departure. The club also had a brief caretaker period under former Under-21s coach Calum McFarlane [citation:1][citation:5].
Cucurella did not hide his frustration with the decision. “The moment Maresca left, it had a big impact on us,” he revealed. “These are decisions taken by the club. If you asked me, I would not have made this decision. To make a change like that, the best thing is to wait until the end of the season” [citation:1].
He continued: “You would give everyone, the players and the new manager, time to get ready, have a full pre-season. The instability around the club comes from this, in a nutshell. We had a caretaker first, then a new manager, with new ideas and no time to work on them. It is what it is” [citation:5][citation:6].
Disillusionment: Cucurella Questions Chelsea’s Youth Policy
The Spanish defender has also expressed doubts about the club’s direction. Chelsea suffered their joint-heaviest defeat in a two-legged European tie this month. They lost 8-2 on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League [citation:5].
“Results like that are always hard to take,” Cucurella admitted. “You are fighting and training every day only to realise, at the very end, that when games matter, we are still a bit away from the top level” [citation:5].
He questioned the club’s policy of signing young players exclusively. “I understand this is part of the club’s policy, and that they want to take this direction – signing young players and looking to the future. But, for all of us who want to win big things, moments like this make you feel discouraged” [citation:5].
Cucurella added: “To fight for major trophies such as the Premier League or the Champions League, you need more. Signing young players only might complicate achieving those goals. Against PSG, we lacked players that had gone through situations like that” [citation:5].
Man-of-the-Match Performance: Cucurella Shines at Anfield
Despite Chelsea’s struggles, Cucurella has remained one of the team’s standout performers. The Blues deployed him in an advanced left-wing role against Liverpool at Anfield. He produced a man-of-the-match display in the 1-1 draw [citation:2][citation:3].
The result halted a miserable run of six consecutive defeats for Chelsea. Tim Harrison of Yahoo Sports noted: “Remarkably, Chelsea chose Anfield – not one of their happy hunting grounds – to halt a miserable run” [citation:7].
Harrison singled out Cucurella for special praise, describing him as the “stand-out performer” despite speculation linking him with a summer exit. The full-back has been tipped to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season [citation:7].
FA Cup Final: Cucurella Expected to Start Against Manchester City
Chelsea face Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday. The return of Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho, and Robert Sanchez provides a huge boost for interim manager Calum McFarlane [citation:2][citation:3].
McFarlane confirmed the positive news on Thursday afternoon. “Pedro Neto and Ale Garnacho have trained well this week. Looking hopeful for them,” he told reporters. “[Sanchez is the] same news as the other lads. So it’s really positive and we’re hopeful looking into Saturday” [citation:3].
The trio’s return allows Cucurella to revert to his traditional defensive role. He filled in at left-wing against Liverpool due to injuries. Chelsea have lost six consecutive domestic finals in the last eight years and are desperate to snap that record [citation:2].
World Cup 2026: Cucurella Named in Spain’s Preliminary Squad
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has included Marc Cucurella in his 55-man preliminary World Cup squad. The left-back is considered an “untouchable” selection by the Spanish coach. He faces competition from fellow La Masia product Alejandro Grimaldo for the starting spot [citation:4][citation:8].
De la Fuente will whittle down his squad to the final 26 players on May 25. As many as 11 Barcelona players are in contention for places in the final roster. However, Cucurella’s experience and versatility make him a strong candidate for the tournament [citation:8].
Spain heads into the World Cup as one of the favourites. The squad blends exciting young talents like Lamine Yamal and Pedri with established veterans. Cucurella will hope to add to his international caps on the biggest stage of all [citation:4][citation:8].
Contract Situation: Chelsea Cannot Afford to Let Him Leave
Cucurella still has two years remaining on his current Chelsea contract. There have been talks of a renewal, but rumours from Spain suggest he is looking for an exit. Barcelona are reportedly okay with their current left-back options and are not pushing to sign him [citation:9].
However, many analysts believe Chelsea would be foolish to allow Cucurella to leave. In a squad overloaded with raw potential and inconsistency, he is one of the few proven winners. He brings intensity, tactical discipline, and personality to a team that has badly lacked those qualities [citation:9].
Cucurella is a European champion and a Club World Cup winner. He has fought through adversity in both England and Spain. At 27, he is entering his prime years. Chelsea should be building around reliable, battle-tested professionals rather than constantly resetting with inexperienced prospects [citation:9].
FAQs
How many games has Marc Cucurella played for Chelsea?
Cucurella has made 154 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea since joining from Brighton in August 2022. He has won the Conference League and the Club World Cup with the Blues.
Did Marc Cucurella come through Barcelona’s academy?
Yes, Cucurella came through Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy. He made one senior appearance for the Catalan club as a substitute in the Copa del Rey during 2017 before moving to Eibar on loan.
Is Marc Cucurella in Spain’s World Cup squad for 2026?<brcucurella has="" been="" named="" in="" spain's="" 55-man="" preliminary="" squad="" for="" the="" 2026="" world="" cup.="" he="" is="" considered="" an="" "untouchable"="" selection="" by="" manager="" luis="" de="" la="" fuente="" alongside="" alejandro="" grimaldo.
Why is Marc Cucurella considering leaving Chelsea?<brcucurella has="" expressed="" frustration="" with="" the="" club's="" instability,="" including="" sacking="" of="" enzo="" maresca="" and="" policy="" signing="" only="" young="" players.="" he="" admitted="" a="" return="" to="" barcelona="" would="" be="" "hard="" turn="" down"="" if="" an="" offer="" materialised.
When is the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City?<brthe fa="" cup="" final="" takes="" place="" on="" saturday,="" may="" 16,="" 2026="" at="" wembley="" stadium.="" chelsea="" are="" the="" nominal="" home="" team="" and="" will="" wear="" their="" classic="" blue="" kit.="" cucurella="" is="" expected="" to="" start="" left-back.
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