Marc Cucurella Opens Up on the Collapse of His Manchester City Move
Marc Cucurella has spoken candidly about the missed opportunity to join Manchester City, revealing how close he came to making one of the most high-profile moves of his career. According to the Chelsea defender, City were extremely keen on signing him before he ultimately moved to Stamford Bridge. “They were on fire, one of the best teams in the world,” Cucurella admitted, emphasizing the allure of Pep Guardiola’s side and the level of football they were playing.
The Spanish international explained that the desire to join City was mutual. “I wanted to go,” he said, highlighting how personal ambition and the chance to work under Guardiola made the move incredibly appealing. Cucurella described the pull of the opportunity in almost reverential terms, joking that when a club like Manchester City comes calling—especially with Guardiola involved—”you’ll go on your knees if necessary.”
Despite the shared enthusiasm between player and club, Cucurella revealed that negotiations ultimately broke down due to financial disagreements between Manchester City and his then-club, Brighton. “The clubs couldn’t reach an agreement,” he stated, underscoring how transfer deals often hinge not only on desire but also on complex financial arrangements that can make or break a move.
He further elaborated that Brighton had certain demands that City considered beyond reasonable limits. “Brighton had demands that were out of the market, and it couldn’t be done,” Cucurella explained, making it clear that the impasse was not due to lack of effort or interest but rather economic realities.
In the end, Cucurella’s move to Chelsea became a reality, but the story of what could have been serves as a reminder of how fine the margins are in top-level football transfers. Even when player and club share mutual admiration, the business side of the game can sometimes prevent dream moves from materializing.
