Cucurella admits Barcelona return “difficult to reject”

Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella has admitted that a potential return to Barcelona would be “difficult to reject,” while making clear he remains settled at Stamford Bridge and is not pushing for a move. The 27-year-old Spain international, who developed in Barça’s famed La Masia academy, addressed the topic during Spain’s training camp ahead of their friendly against Egypt at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium.

Asked directly about the possibility of rejoining the Catalan giants, Cucurella said, “It would be difficult to refuse. It’s not just me. I would have to think about my family. If it comes, it comes, and we will see what decision is made.” He added, “Spain is always Spain. It is where I grew up and you always think about going back.”

Cucurella’s remarks have sparked speculation about his long-term future at Chelsea, especially amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding the club’s squad. Despite acknowledging the emotional and professional draw of Barcelona, the defender stopped short of expressing any immediate intention to leave London.

“I am very happy here and it is a great life experience,” he said, indicating that any decision regarding a move back to Spain would be considered in the context of his family and career stage.

The left-back rose through Barcelona’s youth system but made just one senior appearance for the club in 2017. He then moved on to Eibar and Getafe, where he established himself in La Liga. After impressing in Spain, Cucurella joined Brighton in 2021 before sealing a £60m transfer to Chelsea in 2022. He has since become the Blues’ regular left-back and holds a contract that runs until 2028.

While transfer chatter swirls, Cucurella was keen to underline his professionalism and commitment to his current team. “Football can be unpredictable, and situations can change quickly if the right opportunity arises,” he said. Still, he maintained that he is focused on his responsibilities with both Chelsea and Spain.

Cucurella also provided insight into life at Chelsea this season. The club has endured a turbulent campaign marked by managerial changes and inconsistent results. He pointed to the sacking of Enzo Maresca as a particularly destabilizing moment: “The moment Maresca left, it had a big impact on us,” Cucurella explained. “We had a caretaker first, then a new manager with new ideas and no time to work on them.” The defender expressed he wouldn’t have made that decision himself and suggested such instability has contributed to the club’s struggles.

Reflecting on Chelsea’s disappointing Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, Cucurella didn’t hide his frustration. “Results like that are always hard to take,” he said. “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 acknowledged the club’s strategy of signing young players as part of its rebuilding process but noted that competing for major trophies requires more experience within the squad.

Despite speculation linking him with a return to Spain, reports suggest that Barcelona may not be prioritizing a left-back this summer, nor does Cucurella currently fit within their budget constraints. There are also suggestions that Barça are considering offers for Alejandro Balde instead.

For now, Cucurella remains an integral part of Chelsea’s plans as they navigate through another challenging season. His future may remain open-ended given his links with Barcelona and broader uncertainty around several senior Chelsea players, including Enzo Fernández, but there is no indication of an imminent departure from Stamford Bridge.

As things stand, Cucurella continues as both Chelsea’s first-choice left-back and a regular for Luis de la Fuente’s Spain squad, with his contract tying him to Stamford Bridge until 2028.