According to Metro, Marc Cucurella has expressed contentment at Chelsea and dismissed any thoughts of a return to Barcelona, despite facing challenges during his tenure at Stamford Bridge.
The 25-year-old left-back, who arrived at Chelsea for a record fee from Brighton in 2022, endured a season filled with criticism amidst the team's sixth-place finish in the Premier League, which led to Mauricio Pochettino's dismissal as manager.
Despite rumors earlier this year suggesting his desire to leave, Cucurella seems rejuvenated under new manager Enzo Maresca and is adamant about his commitment to Chelsea, shutting down any speculation about a potential return to his former club, Barcelona, where he began his career.
Having made just one appearance for Barcelona's first team after playing extensively for their B team, Cucurella told COPE, "Today I don’t even think about it, it doesn’t even cross my mind. I think that’s already happened. You never know what can happen, but I’m not thinking about that. At Chelsea I’ve had some difficult years, but I’m happy and my family is comfortable."
Regarding past links to Real Madrid, Cucurella distanced himself from such speculations, stating, "Something was rumored. I don’t know much either. But I try not to let them tell me many things if they are not going to be done because you get too crazy."
Since joining Chelsea, Cucurella has made 59 appearances without winning any silverware, but he remains committed to the club with a contract running until the summer of 2028.
Recently, Cucurella drew criticism from Gary Neville, who suggested his starting position for Spain in Euro 2024 highlighted a perceived gap in the national team's squad.
"He’s aggressive, he’s tenacious, he’s a busy little full-back," Neville commented on ITV Sport. "The price tag still astounds everyone to this day. The Spanish defence, it’s got a lot of experience now but there’s something just missing from Spain that makes you feel like they’re going to go all the way. I have to say that him being at left-back is a good example of why we think that."