Marc Cucurella: Barcelona Offer Would Be Hard To Turn Down, Yet Chelsea Stay Important

Marc Cucurella says a comeback to Barcelona would be difficult to reject, even while Chelsea chase Champions League qualification and adapt to managerial changes. The defender stresses contentment with life in London, yet accepts a formal offer from Barcelona would force a serious decision for both Cucurella and family.

Chelsea sit sixth in the Premier League table with seven matches remaining, aiming to secure a Champions League place. The club dismissed Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day, then installed Liam Rosenior after a short caretaker spell under former Under-21s coach Calum McFarlane, adding further instability around the squad.

Both of Cucurella’s trophies with Chelsea, the Conference League and the Club World Cup, came while Maresca was in charge. Cucurella told The Athletic that the former head coach built clear ideas and strong trust inside the dressing room, and that the sudden change of leadership affected the squad’s sense of continuity.

"We knew what Maresca wanted from us," Cucurella told The Athletic. "Winning a title like the Club World Cup also helps, strengthens the bond, and you create great relationships during the celebrations. When a manager gives you that confidence and offers you a platform to fight for titles, you'd die for him. The moment Maresca left, it had a big impact on us. These are decisions taken by the club. If you asked me, I would not have made this decision. To make a change like that, the best thing is to wait until the end of the season. You would give everyone, the players and the new manager, time to get ready, have a full pre-season. The instability around the club comes from this, in a nutshell. We had a caretaker [former Under-21s coach Calum McFarlane] first, then a new manager, with new ideas and no time to work on them. It is what it is."

Before arriving in England, Cucurella developed at Barcelona’s academy and made one senior appearance in the Copa del Rey. A loan to Eibar in 2018-19 preceded a move to Getafe, first on loan and then permanently, before Brighton signed Cucurella in 2021 following strong performances in La Liga.

Cucurella joined Chelsea in August 2022 and has since played 154 matches in all competitions. The defender helped the club win both the Conference League and the Club World Cup, and was selected in the Club World Cup Team of the Tournament, underlining Cucurella’s consistent involvement across domestic and international fixtures.

Asked about a possible return to Barcelona and Spanish football, Cucurella acknowledged strong emotional ties with home. "Spain is always Spain. It is where I grew up, and you always think about going back," Cucurella said. "But I would [prefer to] leave it for a few years down the line. I am very happy here, and it is a great life experience."

Cucurella stressed that any decision would involve wider considerations than personal ambition. "It is clear if that situation [Barcelona making an offer] did arise, it is hard to turn down, but I would have to consider it in the end. It is not just me. I also have to think about my family, and together we would have to decide what's best for us. As I have said before, right now I am not thinking about that. If it comes, it will come, and we will see what decision is made."

Cucurella’s comments underline a balance between long-term affection for Barcelona and present focus on Chelsea’s objectives. With Champions League qualification still available and a new coaching staff in place, Cucurella’s priority remains the current campaign, while any future approach from Barcelona would be assessed calmly with family when, and if, it arrives.