Cucurella: Return to Barcelona Would Be Hard to Refuse

Chelsea Defender Speaks on Potential Move

Marc Cucurella, the defender for Chelsea, has stated that an opportunity to rejoin his former club Barcelona would be “difficult to turn down.” The 27-year-old, who rose through the ranks at Espanyol before playing in Barcelona’s youth setup, made just one appearance for the senior team in 2017.

After stints with Eibar and Getafe, Cucurella ultimately signed with Brighton in 2021. His impressive performances in the Premier League led to a substantial £60 million transfer to Chelsea, where he has cemented his place as a starting left-back.

When asked about the prospect of returning to Spain, Cucurella remarked: “Spain is always Spain. It’s where I grew up, and it’s natural to think about going back. However, I would prefer to wait a few more years. I’m content here, and this experience has been invaluable.”

Upon being specifically questioned about a potential return to Barcelona, he added: “If an offer from Barcelona were to come, it would certainly be hard to turn down, but I would have to weigh my options carefully. It’s not just about me; my family’s opinion matters as well. Together, we would decide what is best for us.”

He concluded by stating, “As I’ve mentioned, I’m not focused on that right now. If the opportunity arises, we will see what choice is made.”

Impact of Managerial Changes

Cucurella has worked under five different full-time managers since his arrival at Chelsea in the summer of 2022. Enzo Maresca, who took charge in 2024, led the team to a top-four finish as well as wins in the Club World Cup and the Conference League in 2025. Following Maresca’s departure at the beginning of this year, Liam Rosenior took over from his position coaching Strasbourg.

“We knew Maresca’s expectations,” Cucurella shared with The Athletic. “Winning a title like the Club World Cup strengthens team unity and fosters great relationships during the celebrations. When a manager instills confidence and provides a platform to pursue titles, players are motivated to give their all for him.”

He added, “Maresca’s exit certainly left a mark on us. Those decisions are made by the club. Personally, I wouldn’t have made that choice. Usually, the right approach is to wait until the season concludes before making big adjustments; it’s beneficial to allow time for everyone to get prepared, including the new manager.”

Cucurella pointed out that Chelsea currently sits six points away from the top four, yet only one point behind Liverpool in fifth. The team recently endured a significant loss in a two-leg European tie against Paris St-Germain, suffering an aggregate defeat of 8-2.

“Such results are hard to handle,” he continued. “You commit yourself to training daily, only to find out that when the games really matter, we still have a gap to bridge to reach the top level.”

He acknowledged the club’s strategy of signing young talent and focusing on future potential. However, he expressed concerns regarding this approach, saying, “For those of us eager to capture major trophies, experiences like these can be disheartening. To compete for prestigious titles such as the Premier League or the Champions League, more is required. Just signing young players might hinder achieving those goals. Against PSG, we missed seasoned players who have been through such high-pressure situations.”