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Chelsea star Marc Cucurella has opened up about his frustration over missing out on a move to Manchester City earlier in his career.
Cucurella at Brighton — the move that sparked interest
Chelsea star Marc Cucurella has spoken openly about his frustration over a failed transfer to Manchester City earlier in his career. Appearing as a guest on Informe Plus for Movistar, the left-back discussed the saga in detail, with Spanish outlet El Desmarque relaying his comments.
Manchester City had been eager to sign him from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022. Cucurella first arrived in the Premier League in 2021 after Brighton secured him from Getafe. His debut season in England was outstanding — 38 appearances of energy, aggression, creativity, and defensive reliability. Those performances put him firmly on Pep Guardiola’s radar.
Pep personally reached out to bring the former Barça youth product to the Etihad, and Cucurella admitted that he desperately wanted to join the reigning English champions at the time.
A move, however, never happened. City failed to meet Brighton’s valuation, while Chelsea ultimately succeeded and signed him in August 2022.
“They were on fire and were one of the best teams in the world. I absolutely wanted to go. When they come like they did, and when Guardiola asks you to, you’ll go on your knees, if necessary,” Cucurella said.
“But the clubs couldn’t reach an agreement. Brighton had exorbitant demands, and it just wasn’t possible.”
After the deal broke down, Manchester City pivoted and signed Sergio Gómez from Anderlecht. He later departed the club and moved to Real Sociedad in July 2024.
Meanwhile, Cucurella has gone on to establish himself at Chelsea as a versatile, trusted defender — even playing a pivotal role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph. While the regret of the failed City move clearly lingers, his career trajectory since has strengthened his position as one of Europe’s top modern full-backs.
Marc Cucurella Reveals His Frustration Over Failed Manchester City Transfer
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