Three major Spanish clubs — Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid — have reportedly initiated contact regarding a potential move for Chelsea’s star player.

Chelsea’s left-back, Marc Cucurella, seems to be edging closer to a departure from Stamford Bridge as transfer rumours intensify.

According to Ben Jacobs of GiveMeSport, Atletico Madrid are preparing to enter formal negotiations with the Blues to sign the Spanish defender.

The La Liga side have identified the versatile full-back as a top priority for manager Diego Simeone, who is keen to strengthen his squad ahead of the new season.

Senior figures in Madrid are said to be eager to finalise the deal swiftly, though the club reportedly intends to pay less than €50 million (£43.2 million) for Cucurella’s services.

How has Cucurella performed at Chelsea?

After a challenging start in West London, Cucurella has gradually silenced his critics since his second year at the club following a transfer worth up to £63 million.

Although he began to rediscover his best form under Mauricio Pochettino, his performances truly flourished under Enzo Maresca’s management.

Maresca capitalised on Cucurella’s attacking instincts, encouraging him to make forward runs into the penalty area — a move that paid off as the left-back netted seven goals across all competitions in the 2024–25 season.

Following Maresca’s departure, Cucurella hinted at his desire to explore a summer move, suggesting that a change could be on the horizon.

While the Stamford Bridge hierarchy has not completely ruled out a permanent transfer, the defender remains under contract until June 2029.

With Xabi Alonso now at the helm at Chelsea, there remains a possibility that he could rely on Cucurella for the upcoming campaign should the player stay.

Negotiations are expected to intensify as the La Liga club aims to secure their defensive target early in the transfer window.

Cucurella’s attention turns to World Cup duties with Spain.

The 27-year-old is currently on international duty with Spain ahead of their opening World Cup fixture against Cape Verde.

Recently, Cucurella attempted to downplay growing transfer speculation by expressing his happiness with life in London.

However, should Atletico Madrid reach a financial agreement with Chelsea, the Blues may be forced to accelerate their plans to sign a replacement — with Jorrel Hato and Valentin Barco emerging as potential candidates.

(Banjarmasinpost.co.id)