“Incredible” Chelsea star admits he “absolutely wanted” to join Manchester City before sealing big-money move to Stamford Bridge

Chelsea's Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella. (Reuters/Paul Childs)

Chelsea are enjoying a superb campaign.

Sitting third in the Premier League and firmly in the title race, the Blues have also looked electric in Europe — none more so than their dominant 3–0 win over Barcelona.

Estevão has lit up the attack, Moisés Caicedo has become an immovable force in midfield, and Robert Sánchez looks a different goalkeeper compared to last season.

Yet the standout performer may well be Marc Cucurella — a defensive wall who’s been silencing elite wingers with ease.

But the Spaniard has now made an admission that won’t delight Chelsea supporters.

Marc Cucurella has confessed that he was desperate to join Manchester City before his eventual £60m switch to Chelsea in 2022.

The left-back — hailed as “incredible” by Wayne Rooney after Chelsea’s recent demolition of Barcelona — revealed that he had his heart set on working under Pep Guardiola.

Speaking to El Desmarque, he said: “Man City 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 Pep Guardiola asks you to, you’ll crawl there on your knees if necessary.”

Cucurella added that the deal fell apart because Brighton refused to budge.

“The clubs couldn’t reach an agreement. Brighton had exorbitant demands, and it just wasn’t possible,” he said.

Despite the failed move, Cucurella has flourished at Stamford Bridge — and judging by his current form, Chelsea may feel they ended up with the better deal anyway.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.