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Marc Cucurella has revealed he has already had a conversation with incoming Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso, who managed to "inspire a lot of confidence" in the unsettled left-back.
Having openly voiced his frustrations with the Chelsea hierarchy following the exit of former head coach Enzo Maresca, Cucurella has been heavily linked with a summer move away from the club. Maresca is said to be eager for a reunion at Manchester City, though much of the speculation centers on a return to La Liga.
Both Barcelona and Atlético Madrid are reportedly interested in Cucurella, who has acknowledged his desire to return to Spain. However, a positive message regarding Chelsea now appears to have kept the door open for him to remain at Stamford Bridge.
When asked by MARCA about his thoughts on Alonso's project, Cucurella said: "I've spoken with him and he inspired a lot of confidence in me. I've also spoken with [Alejandro] Grimaldo and Borja [Iglesias], who have worked with him, and they spoke very highly of him.
"The project seems very interesting."
How Cucurella Would Fit in Under Alonso
Cucurella has established himself as a key component in the tactical setups of most of his managers during his time at Chelsea, for better or for worse.
Under Maresca, Cucurella frequently operated in a role that could best be described as an inverted attacking midfielder, tasked with contributing to central build-up play while still being expected to hold down the left flank defensively.
Alonso is unlikely to deploy Cucurella in such a complex manner, with his precise role under the new manager depending on the formation chosen. At Bayer Leverkusen, Alonso's 3-4-3 system transformed Grimaldo, Cucurella's Spain international teammate, into one of the most dangerous wing-backs on the continent. The title-winning 2023–24 campaign saw Grimaldo rack up a remarkable 12 goals and 20 assists.
At Real Madrid, however, Alonso tended to prefer a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1, both of which call for a more conventional left back. Playing in Cucurella's favor is his versatility to perform in either role, which will undoubtedly make a strong impression on the incoming manager.
Alonso will demand total commitment from his squad, so it comes as little surprise that he has already reached out to Cucurella. If there are indications the defender is looking for an exit, Alonso will be reluctant to hand him a key role within his system.
SI answers is our AI answer engine trained on human-created content.
Transfer market ambition — or the perceived lack of it — was at the heart of Cucurella's initial grievances before Chelsea missed out on Champions League qualification. Winning back disgruntled players, including Enzo Fernández, is among Alonso's most pressing tasks.