Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella, however, has admitted to ‘nagging’ Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams to make the switch to Stamford Bridge this summer with him. Both are enjoying brilliant tournaments with Spain here in Euro 2024 and, subsequently, Williams is expected to have a coveted interest in his signature this summer from top clubs in Europe.
While Cucurella accepted the winger is a good signing for Camp Nou, he pleaded with the flying winger to make a move to Chelsea instead.
“He is a great player; he is pulling out everything he has within him. It’s a cause of pride he’s on our team, that he’s our teammate, and with players of his kind, everything is a bit easier,” Cucurella confided in SPORT.
“He will be great for Barcelona, but that’s maybe your point of view. I’m pressing him to go to Chelsea. After all, it depends on him. He is so young yet with so much experience, and I feel he is going to become a great player.”
As recently reported by AS, Chelsea are ready to pay Williams’ release clause of 58 million euros (£49m), but 90min understands the Blues are put off by the high wage demands of the winger.
Chelsea and Barcelona have already butted heads this summer: 18-year-old striker Marc Guiu opted to snub the chance of prolonging his stay at the Catalan giants and instead moved his talents to Stamford Bridge in a €6m (£5m) deal, which has since proven to be piracy when Barcelona were totally helpless before the release clause in his contract.
“We spoke and I told him that if he needed anything, he should let me know,” reported Cucurella about Guiu. “I’m happy because he’s a great player, very young, with a very promising future and we’re going to take care of him so that he can play his best football.”
Asked whether he was surprised to be watching a young player without the patience to sit it out in the Spanish capital, Cucurella pointed out it’s not as black and white.
“It’s complicated,” he said. “All footballers want to play. Some have held out, been patient and have not had the opportunity.
“Football is difficult, nobody guarantees you anything, you have to take advantage of your opportunities and think about your future.”