In August 2022, with the new order at Chelsea still asserting itself, Cucurella was invited to Mykonos to meet the interim sporting director. Todd Boehly, it turned out, was a man who knew how to conduct a charm offensive. The American had seen Manchester City fail to meet Brighton's asking price for the left-back. A window of opportunity emerged.
Brighton, who bought Cucurella for 15.4m in 2021, were somehow convinced to sell him for 55m plus 7m in add-ons, a deal that left many wondering whether Chelsea's owners were perhaps getting a little bit too giddy in the transfer market. He's a good player, a Spanish source said at the time. He's just not a 60m player.
Cucurella struggled initially at Chelsea, facing injury, illness, and criticism from frustrated supporters. Fans considered him a joke, flop, and a hate figure as he failed to live up to his high price tag and underperformed in matches.
Despite the challenges, Mauricio Pochettino has persisted with Cucurella, showing faith in the 25-year-old's abilities and potential for improvement, highlighting the manager's determination to support and develop the player.
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