Marc Cucurella came to FC Barcelona at the age of 14, but he was not believed to be capable of breaking through with the pros. At SD Eibar, the coach destroyed him first, but then the miraculous journey of a very special guy began, who became the most expensive left-back in the world.
When SD Eibar were looking for a left-back on the last transfer day in the summer of 2018, it wasn’t that easy due to limited funds and an even more limited market that didn’t eject many affordable left-backs. Then Eibar was offered a certain Marc Cucurella.
What kind of player was he then? “He’s not fast, he’s not particularly strong. You can’t find all the things you can measure with him. You would never sign him,” was the devastating verdict of then-coach José Luis Mendilibar: “But he’s a footballer.” It sounds disastrous for a footballer when his only reason for being hired seems to be to be a professional.
“We were the only Primera Division team interested in him,” Eibar’s then sporting director Garagarza told dem Guardians. “I called him and he was thrilled because he knew this was his chance to play in the premier league.” What has become of him is well known: Cucurella switched to Chelsea in the summer for 65.3 million euros, making him the most expensive left-back in the world.
“You never know how good a player is until he’s on the pitch,” says ex-teammate Rodri Tarin, who follows his colleague’s career and notes that Cucurella has been able to maintain his level at every new club and never despite higher tasks fell off. It’s no different with the blues. Cucurella keeps the pace. He fought for a regular place right away. He has already had two assists in seven Premier League appearances.
How Marc Cucurella ended up at Chelsea
Chelsea’s now-sacked ex-coach Thomas Tuchel called Cucurella a “fantastic young player. He’s hungry, agile and very intelligent. He can play multiple positions in our system.” It was a feat for Chelsea to get Cucurella, as Manchester City seemed to be the favorite for a long time.
The champion had given Aleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal and was looking for an alternative. The fact that the Catalan Cucurella was an almost perfect Guardiola player with the La Masia training was not enough to convince Brighton & Hove Albion to release him for the almost 50 million euros initially offered.
Brighton has been on the word with Cucurella that they will not take a rigorous stance when a lucrative prospect comes along, but not at any price. Cucurella didn’t want to be rude and blackmail his sale like some people do. He remained the sincere and friendly type described by those around him. In the end he was allowed to switch to Chelsea, which offered a little more money.
The Stations of Marc Cucurella
Period
station
to 2012
Espanyol Barcelona (youth)
2012 – 2018
Barcelona FC
2018 – 2019
SD Eibar (loan)
2019 – 2021
FC Getafe (incl. loan)
2021 – 2022
Brighton & Hove Albion
since Aug 2022
Chelsea FC
Debut for Spain because everyone else was in quarantine
Cucurella’s rise certainly caused a stir in Spain, where he only had one international appearance – when the whole team was quarantined in June 2021. And especially at his ex-club FC Barcelona. He was trained there after the boy was discovered by the neighbors of Espanyol Barcelona and won over. He prevailed in all age groups, he even celebrated his professional debut in a meaningless cup game, but that was all he could do.
Two clauses were set when he went to Eibar: Eibar can buy him for two million euros, Barcelona can buy him back for four million euros. Both options were drawn. However, Barca had no intention of bringing in Cucurella as Jordi Alba’s back-up but passing him on profitably. Getafe FC took Cucurella with a ten million clause, Barca as Alba replacement for 20 million euros Junior Firpo for 20 million euros. An expensive flop.
Marc Cucurella cannot forget FC Barcelona
“When I left Barca, I had a little thorn in my side,” he said in a Twitch interview in February 2022. “They didn’t give me the chance and never explained why. If I had the opportunity to return, it would be special, I would get rid of this thorn.”
Looking at his development since then, it seems like a misjudgment by the Barca bosses not to have given him a chance, especially since they were said to be interested in Cucurella this summer. But at the price called, Barca got out early. Cucurella was too expensive even for the big-buy Barcelona this season.
Blaming them for not recognizing their own player’s talent can stop. But it is also true that Cucurella is a late bloomer and the decision not to keep him was probably even bearable at the time. He just hasn’t been seen in the senior squad and Cucurella isn’t the first player to realize his true potential later on.
Graham Potter followed Marc Cucurella to Chelsea
After the decent season in Eibar, he had even more influence on the game in Getafe, and ultimately he was unstoppable there too. At the beginning of last season he was actually about to move to Burnley FC. He visited the city, the training ground. He liked being together in the Sean Dyche town and thought it would be a good idea to move there.
But then came Graham Potter. The Brighton manager outlined a plan for Cucurella to become a top player thanks to the style of play of what is arguably the Premier League’s best running team. Brighton offered less money but more prospects. If you look at the developments of both teams, it was a spot on decision.
Although Cucurella also has to admit that it wasn’t just because of Potter, but also because of his neighbor from Madrid, who is a pilot and previously lived in Brighton for several years and raved about the city by the sea to Cucurella. He still wants to come there from time to time, even though he now lives an hour’s drive away in London. Incidentally, that’s how long Potter has now taken to Brighton: After the dismissal of Tuchel, he recently took over as coach at Chelsea.
