'I Was on My Knees, I Wanted to Go!': Marc Cucurella Reveals He Pushed for Man City Move Before £55m Chelsea Transfer
Marc Cucurella has revealed that he was eager to join Manchester City before completing his £55 million transfer to Chelsea from Brighton in the summer of 2022. The defender moved to Stamford Bridge after the Blues met Brighton’s valuation, with the deal rising to a potential £62 million including add-ons.
Marc Cucurella admits he wanted a Man City move before joining Chelsea, details Brighton negotiations, and confirms his new contract with the Blues.
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Chelsea secured Cucurella’s signature after Manchester City failed to reach an agreement over the fee. City submitted an initial £30 million offer and later increased it to £40 million, but both bids were rejected by Brighton, who held firm at £50 million. Barcelona also showed interest, and Cucurella was open to a return to the club, but the Catalan side did not meet the required valuation. Chelsea entered negotiations and agreed to the price, while Brighton pushed to include Levi Colwill, who later joined the Seagulls on a season-long loan.
Cucurella explained his admiration for Manchester City’s project and his excitement when Pep Guardiola showed interest. He stated that he was prepared to “go on his knees” to complete the move but acknowledged that the transfer failed due to the clubs not reaching an agreement.
The Chelsea defender has also earned recognition for his performance against Barcelona in the Champions League, where he helped limit Lamine Yamal’s influence on the left flank. Reports stated that Cucurella prepared for the match by training against Estevao, who later scored in Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over the Spanish champions. Cucurella confirmed his approach, noting that he trained intensely with Estevao ahead of the fixture.
Questions about his future at Chelsea were clarified following his confirmation that contract renewal talks had been completed. He stated through BBC Sport that the club had shown confidence in him and expressed his satisfaction at remaining with the team. Cucurella has three years left on his existing deal and is preparing for Chelsea’s upcoming match against Leeds United.
