The transfer market, even for players accustomed to its currents, can hold a sting. For Marc Cucurella, the left-back currently with Chelsea, that feeling centers on Barcelona. In a candid interview with The Athletic, Cucurella revealed that a move back to his boyhood club would have been difficult to turn down, even amidst the turbulence at Stamford Bridge. The 25-year-old’s comments offer a rare glimpse into the emotional complexities faced by professional footballers navigating high-profile transfers and shifting managerial landscapes.
Cucurella joined Chelsea in August 2022 for a reported £62 million fee, a then-club record for a defender. Since then, the Spaniard has experienced a revolving door of managers – Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Bruno Saltzman, Enzo Maresca, and now Liam Rosenior – a situation he attributes to a lack of long-term planning at the club. The instability, he suggests, has hampered Chelsea’s ability to consistently challenge for major honors, a frustration echoed in his assessment of their recent Champions League exit.
A Fondness for the Camp Nou
Born in Tarragona, Catalonia, Cucurella came through the famed La Masia academy at Barcelona before departing for Getafe in 2018. The pull of returning to the club where his footballing journey began was strong. “Barcelona is my home,” Cucurella told The Athletic. “It’s where I grew up as a player and a person. Of course, it would have been difficult to say no to them.” Even as a formal offer never materialized, the mere possibility clearly resonated with the player, highlighting the enduring power of hometown ties in professional sport. He didn’t elaborate on the timing of any potential interest, but his words suggest it was a consideration during recent transfer windows.
Maresca’s Impact and a Sudden Shift
Despite the broader instability, Cucurella spoke glowingly of his time under Enzo Maresca, who guided Chelsea to a top-four finish, the Club World Cup title, and success in the Conference League in 2025. “We knew what Maresca wanted from us,” he said. “Winning a title like the Club World Cup also helps, strengthens the bond, and you create great relationships during the celebrations.” He emphasized the confidence Maresca instilled in him, stating, “When a manager gives you that confidence and offers you a platform to fight for titles, you’d die for him.”
The abrupt departure of Maresca at the start of the year, however, proved to be a significant blow. As reported by the BBC, Liam Rosenior, formerly managing Strasbourg, took the reins. Cucurella was critical of the timing of the change, arguing that it disrupted the team’s momentum. “The moment Maresca left, it had a big impact on us,” he explained. “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. You would give everyone, the players and the new manager, time to get ready, have a full pre-season.”
Champions League Disappointment and a Youth-Focused Strategy
Chelsea’s recent 8-2 aggregate defeat to Paris St‑Germain in the Champions League – as detailed by the BBC – served as a stark reminder of the gap between the club and Europe’s elite. Cucurella acknowledged the disappointment, stating, “Results like that are always hard to take. 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.”
He also addressed the club’s current strategy of prioritizing young players, a direction he understands but doesn’t fully embrace. “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,” he said. “But, for all of us who want to win big things, moments like this make you feel discouraged. 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.”
Navigating the Present and Looking Ahead
Currently, Chelsea sits six points outside the top four in the Premier League, though only one point behind Liverpool in fifth place. The team is navigating a period of transition under Rosenior, attempting to blend youthful potential with the experience of players like Cucurella. The Spaniard’s future at the club remains uncertain, but his honesty about the challenges and his lingering affection for Barcelona provide a compelling narrative within the broader context of Chelsea’s rebuilding process. The club’s commitment to a youth-centric approach will be further tested in the upcoming transfer windows, and Cucurella’s role within that framework will be a key storyline to watch.
The next significant date for Chelsea is their Premier League fixture against Manchester United on May 12th, a match that could significantly impact their chances of securing a Champions League spot for next season. Further updates on the club’s transfer strategy are expected in June, following the conclusion of the current campaign.
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