Marc Cucurella: Analyzing the most expensive left-back in history

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Two seasons ago, Marc Cucurella was an unknown player. Playing for Getafe, his club finished just 4 points ahead of the relegation zone that season. Today, he is a Chelsea player who was just signed for a record-breaking fee of more than 60 million euros, more than any other left-back in history.

So, how did he jump from almost being relegated in Spain to joining one of the best English clubs in history? In this article, we will analyze his player profile, his journey from youth to the present day, and how he will fit in Chelsea’s system.

Rejected by Barcelona

Born in Catalonia, Spain, Cucurella started his career at Espanyol, then joined La Masia, FC Barcelona’s academy. Playing primarily as a left-back, he rose through the ranks and earned a place in Barcelona’s B team when he was 18 years old. Even though he was a regular starter for the B team, playing 48 games in two seasons, Barcelona never gave him a single appearance for the first team bar a substitute appearance in a Copa del Rey match, due to his lack of talent and ability compared to the likes of Jordi Alba and Lucas Digne. As a result, the Spaniard was loaned and signed to Eibar and Getafe respectively between the summer of 2018 and 2021.

Marc Cucurella in his La Masia days | Source

Despite failing to break through into the first team at Barcelona, Cucurella was still good enough to play in the first division. At both Eibar and Getafe, he played primarily as a left back in a 4–4–2 formation, although sometimes playing as a left midfielder or even a left winger. Because Eibar and Getafe are both teams that rely on playing with a low block and counter-attacking the opposition, Cucurella never managed to get possession of the ball often, as shown by his passing numbers in the 2019/2020 season (26 passes completed per 90, 50.55 touches per 90). Regardless of not being able to have many opportunities to showcase his technical abilities on the ball, he impressed through his tenacious work rate, pressing relentlessly and getting forward as much as possible to support counterattacks, usually after winning the ball. Here are some impressive statistics in his 2019/2020 season with Getafe from FBref per 90:

- Shot Creating Defensive Actions: 0.11 (96th percentile in LaLiga)

- Pressures: 26.08 (99th percentile)

- Successful Pressures: 8.42 (99th percentile)

- Tackles won: 1.72 (92nd percentile)

- Key Passes: 1.36 (92nd percentile)

- xG Assisted: 0.13 (91st percentile)

Obviously, teams who have more of the ball will have lower defensive numbers. However, in Cucurella’s case, it is quite impressive that he is able to record high defensive numbers while also displaying decent attacking numbers.

When Cucurella sees an opportunity to regain possession, he presses aggressively and gives no time for the opposition to retain the ball | Source

In the end, Cucurella wins the duel, however, his tenacity doesn’t end there as he immediately joins the counter-attack while the midfield opposition is in disarray | Source

Breakthrough at Brighton

As a result of his phenomenal work rate, the now 24-year-old earned a move to Brighton in 2021 for a fee of £18 million. Although Brighton are a mid-table team in the Premier League, Brighton plays more possession-based and attacking football, playing Cucurella as primarily a left back, a left wing-back, or sometimes even as a left center back in either a 4–3–1–2 or a 3–4–3. Subsequently, he was able to showcase more of his technical skills on the ball, impressing English fans with his smooth ball control and his accurate passing, and soon became one of Brighton’s most important players.

Although transitioning into a more attacking player than in his days in Spain, Cucurella still presses and wins the ball often, earning him two Player of the Season awards for Brighton. Regarded as one of the best left-backs in the Premier League that season, he dominates the entire left wing, always getting forward and posing an attacking threat to the opposition and supporting his teammates. The Spaniard always finds open spaces off the ball and is constantly an effective passing option, progressing the ball forwards through ball carrying and his exceptional passing, and is a pressing machine up and down the field. Here are some of the Spaniard’s statistics in his only season with Brighton in 2021/2022:

- Passes into final third: 3.83 (88th percentile in top 5 leagues)

- Progressive passes: 5.06 (87th percentile)

- Progressive carries: 6.07 (79th percentile)

- Successful pressures: 5.84 (95th percentile)

- Successful pressure %: 37.8% (99th percentile)

- Tackles won: 1.84 (91st percentile)

- Ball recoveries: 10.24 (98th percentile)

After only one excellent season in England’s topflight, top teams, notably Manchester City, were interested in signing the 24-year-old, however, it was Chelsea at the end who picked him up for a record fee of over 60 million euros. It was not without controversy though, as fans and critics argued that Chelsea does not need an extra left-back and the fee was more reasonable for a more attacking full-back. In comparison, Achraf Hakimi, regarded as one of the best right backs in the world, transferred from Inter Milan to PSG for 59 million euros in 2021. Hakimi is faster, more agile, and more productive in the final third than Cucurella, however, it is worth noting that the Spaniard is much better in terms of pressing, defending, and ball progression.

Hakimi at Inter Milan 2020/2021 vs. Cucurella at Brighton 2021/2022 | Data taken from FBref

Expected role at Chelsea

At Chelsea, he will be expected to play a similar role as his Brighton days, playing primarily as a left wing-back in Tuchel’s 3–4–3 system, controlling the entire wing defensively, but more importantly, offensively. In spite of the Blues paying north of 60 million euros for the Spaniard, his playing time will most likely be divided with the other left-backs in Chelsea, Ben Chilwell, and Marcos Alonso, if Alonso does not end up in a new club at the end of the transfer window. Cucurella offers a different skill set than Chelsea’s other left backs: he is not as attacking as Chilwell or Alonso, but he offers better defensive security in the defending third and in the midfield and possesses better work rate.

Cucurella’s versatility means he can also be part of Chelsea’s back three if need be, as he has a bit of experience playing in that position at Brighton. Despite being a little shaky in that role, he can still play an instrumental part for the team: he can progress the ball forward and support the midfield, while also be an aggressive defender, pressing and making tackles in the midfield while the other defenders, usually Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah, César Azpilicueta, and Kalidou Koulibaly, can cover for him.

Playing as part of a back three, Cucurella is comfortable making important tackles in the penalty box | Source

Conclusion

In short, Cucurella is an amazing left-back, starting off as a Barca reject, then being one of the most expensive fullbacks in the world. The Spaniard is a pressing machine, relentlessly pressing up and down the wing, while also possessing exceptional ball control, supporting the midfield, and breaking attacking and midfield lines with his ball progression. However, the 24-year-old still has plenty of work to do; he must prove that he is consistent with his performances (he only has one good season in his six-year career), and must work hard to impress Tuchel and be ahead of his left-back teammates to earn a spot in the starting lineup.