Spanish defender Marc Cucurella has disclosed that he was keen to join a different Premier League team before finalizing his transfer to Chelsea FC in August 2022. The move to Chelsea came after the club agreed to pay over £60 million to Brighton & Hove Albion, where Cucurella had established himself as a key player.
Since joining Chelsea, Cucurella has made an impressive 132 appearances, contributing eight goals and 11 assists from the left-back position. His achievements this season include winning both the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup under coach Enzo Maresca.
Interest from Manchester City
Before his move to Stamford Bridge, Cucurella was a target for Manchester City, where manager Pep Guardiola expressed a strong desire to bring him on board. Cucurella revealed in an interview with Informe that he was excited about the prospect of joining City, stating, “Man City wanted me before I joined Chelsea. They were on fire, one of the best teams in the world. I wanted to go.”
Guardiola’s interest in Cucurella came after City had just retained their Premier League title in 2022 and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. Despite Cucurella’s eagerness to join, negotiations between City and Brighton ultimately broke down, preventing the transfer from materializing.
Guardiola went on to strengthen his defensive lineup during the summer transfer window by signing Manuel Akanji and Sergio Gomez. Akanji often filled in at left-back, while Gomez was brought in to provide additional coverage on the left side of defense and in more attacking roles.
Cucurella’s Continued Success
Although Cucurella missed the opportunity to contribute to City’s treble-winning season, he has continued to find success with Chelsea and the Spanish national team. In addition to his club achievements, Cucurella was part of the Spanish squad that won the UEFA European Championship in the summer of 2021. Since his debut for Spain, he has earned 22 caps and scored one goal.
Reflecting on his career trajectory, Cucurella’s decision to join Chelsea has proven fruitful, allowing him to showcase his talents on an international stage while securing silverware along the way. His journey illustrates the unpredictable nature of football transfers and the challenges players face in navigating high-stakes negotiations.
