Barcelona are reportedly interested in re-signing Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella and have been discussing the idea with intent in recent days, according to reports in Spain. The Catalan club are said to be keen on bringing back their former youth academy product, who has been with Chelsea for four seasons.
Cucurella's Chelsea Career
Cucurella joined Chelsea from Brighton in 2022 for a fee of £63 million, a deal that made him the most expensive left-back in football history. He has since made 158 appearances in all competitions for the Blues, helping the club win the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup after overcoming a difficult debut season.
Uncertain Future at Stamford Bridge
Doubts over Cucurella's future have intensified in recent weeks. The Spaniard publicly criticised Chelsea's decision to part ways with manager Enzo Maresca and highlighted a lack of experience in the squad. The dismissal of Liam Rosenior added to the instability, though interim boss Calum McFarlane has since guided the team to this year's FA Cup final.
When asked about a potential return to Spain last month, Cucurella said: 'Spain is always Spain. 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.' Pressed about a move to 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.'
Barcelona's Interest
According to El Chiringuito de Jugones, Barcelona have been holding internal discussions about signing the 27-year-old. Spanish commentator Jota Jordi claimed: 'There's a player who knows Barca well, he came through their youth academy, and that's Cucurella. Barcelona have been talking about the player in the offices for a couple of days now.'
Coincidentally, Cucurella is currently in Spain to watch the Madrid Open tennis tournament, along with Chelsea teammates Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro. Fernandez's own future has been subject to speculation after he flirted with a move to Real Madrid, but he scored the decisive goal in Chelsea's FA Cup semi-final win over Leeds.
Chelsea interim manager Calum McFarlane praised Fernandez, calling him a 'warrior' and the 'deciding factor' in the match. Cucurella's contract at Stamford Bridge runs until June 2028, while Fernandez has six years remaining on his deal.
