Barcelona wants to bring La Masia talent home

April 28, 2026 Aksel Kryhlmand

FC Barcelona is seriously considering bringing a former La Masia academy graduate back to Camp Nou. The club has reportedly set its sights on Chelsea's left-back Marc Cucurella, who left the Catalan giants years ago.

According to Spanish Sport Witness, citing El Chiringuito journalist Jota Jordi, internal discussions about Cucurella have already taken place at Barcelona's offices in recent days. "There's a player who knows Barça well, he came through their youth academy, and that's Cucurella. They've been talking about the player in the offices for a couple of days now," Jota Jordi stated.

A Past at Camp Nou

Marc Cucurella, who turns 27 in July, is a familiar face in Barcelona. He is a product of the club's renowned La Masia academy but never managed to establish himself in the first team. He made only a single appearance for the senior squad before seeking new pastures.

After leaving Barcelona, Cucurella made his way to the Premier League. First to Brighton & Hove Albion in 2021, where he made a significant impression, before Chelsea signed him for Stamford Bridge in August 2022. There, he signed a long-term contract running until June 30, 2028. His market value is estimated by Transfermarkt at 50 million euros.

Despite a difficult start at Chelsea, Cucurella has since found his form and contributed to the club's success, including victories in the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025.

The Path to a Deal is Long

Barcelona currently has Alejandro Balde and Gerard Martín as left-backs, but Balde has been linked with several Premier League clubs. A potential sale of Balde could free up funds to finance a deal for Cucurella, who has previously expressed dissatisfaction over a lack of opportunities at Barcelona.

However, a deal will hardly be easy for Barcelona. Chelsea is known for being a tough negotiator, and with two years remaining on Cucurella's contract, as well as a new permanent manager to be appointed, it is unlikely they will let him go without a fight. Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior was recently sacked, and the new coach will likely have a say in the squad's composition.

Cucurella, incidentally, showed his worth against Barcelona in November, delivering a strong performance in Chelsea's 3-0 victory in the Champions League.

Sources: sportwitness.co.uk