Marc Pubill Encourages Cucurella to Join Atletico Madrid
Marc Pubill, a former teammate of Marc Cucurella, has reportedly encouraged the Chelsea defender to leave the club and join him at Atletico Madrid during the upcoming summer transfer window. This suggestion comes as Cucurella’s future at Stamford Bridge becomes increasingly uncertain.
Cucurella made a high-profile move to Chelsea in 2022 from Brighton, signing for a fee of £63 million, which made him the most expensive left-back in football history at the time. Over the past four seasons, he has made 163 appearances across all competitions for the Blues. Despite a challenging debut season, he has since played a crucial role in helping Chelsea win the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup.
However, recent developments have raised questions about his long-term commitment to the club. Cucurella has openly criticized Chelsea’s decision to part ways with Enzo Maresca, while also pointing out a lack of experience within the squad. Although Xabi Alonso’s arrival is expected to bring stability to the team, there are still concerns about Cucurella’s future.
According to reports from The Athletic, both Barcelona and Atleti have been in contact with representatives of Cucurella to explore the possibility of a summer move. It is claimed that Cucurella is “willing” to leave, despite signing a new contract less than a year ago. If a potential suitor meets Chelsea’s valuation, the club would not stand in the way of his departure.
Atletico Madrid is seen as one of the more likely clubs to sign Cucurella, with the Spanish side reportedly welcoming the prospect of bringing the 27-year-old into their ranks. During a recent interview at Spain’s World Cup training camp, Pubill was asked if he had already encouraged Cucurella to join Atletico. He replied, “Yes, of course, I’ve already told him!” When asked about Cucurella’s response, Pubill simply smiled, offering no further details.
Mateu Alemany, Atletico’s sporting director, is reportedly leading the club’s pursuit of Cucurella. He has personally spoken to members of the left-back’s inner circle regarding a potential move from London to Madrid. Atletico has identified the left-back position as a key area of focus for the summer transfer window, even though Matteo Ruggeri has had a promising debut season.
Earlier this year, Cucurella expressed his thoughts on the possibility of returning to Spanish football, having come through the academy ranks at Barcelona as a youngster. He said, “Spain is always Spain. It is where I grew up and you always think about going back.” However, he added, “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.”
When asked specifically about a potential move to Barcelona, Cucurella responded, “It is clear if that situation 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 current contract with Chelsea is set to expire in June 2028. However, he is not the only player facing an uncertain future at the club. Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez have also been the subject of intense speculation in recent months.
Last month, when confronted by El Chiringuito de Jugones, Xabi Alonso was unable to rule out the possibility of any of the trio being sold. As the summer transfer window approaches, all eyes will be on how these players’ futures unfold.
