Chelsea star 'really good at Euro 2024' could be huge weapon for Enzo Maresca

Enzo Maresca has been active in the transfer market since taking over as Chelsea manager but he’s also due to be boosted by a current club player heading back from Euro 2024. The Premier League form of Marc Cucurella has been widely criticised since his big-money move from Brighton two years ago, but the 25-year-old has appeared to rebuild his reputation this summer.

By helping his side stay for the full duration in Germany, the left-back proved to be one of his country’s most dependent performers.

And his displays have caught the attention of BBC pundit Alan Shearer, who outlined the defender as a key player before Spain’s final clash with England.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, the former Newcastle and Blackburn forward said: “Cucurella has had a great tournament, by the way. Cucurella has looked really, really good.”

Shearer has not been a lone voice with his praise. And developments have left fans of the Blues hoping that Cucurella can now replicate his international form at club level, and start justifying the £55million fee their club paid Brighton for his services.

The player has made 59 club appearances in his two seasons at Stamford Bridge, scoring once. However, he was reportedly on the brink of being loaned out to Manchester United at the start of the 2023/24 campaign, but the two clubs were unable to negotiate a deal.

If the former Barcelona and Getafe man can now kick on under Maresca, it could prove the equivalent of a productive new signing for Chelsea. The main rival for his position, Ben Chilwell, saw his career stall last season amid a string of injury problems, that also cost him his place in the England squad.

The Italian boss would also have been impressed with the temperament of Cucurella this summer. He was involved in a controversial moment in Spain’s quarter-final win over Germany, escaping punishment for an apparent handball that denied the hosts a penalty with the scores locked at 1-1.

As a result, local fans jeered his every touch when Luis de la Fuente’s men took on France in the semi-finals. But it didn’t affect the player’s performance, and he duly spoke about being able to ignore vitriol, citing when he went back to the Amex last season.

Speaking to La Vanguardia, he said: “When I returned to the Brighton pitch with Chelsea I had been booed a lot too, even more,” he said. “I think a lot of people had bought their tickets ahead of time and I imagine they were whistling through my hands.

“But these are things that happen, it’s not something that affects me. The truth is that going to a field where your team is not playing and, instead of enjoying a semi-final, spend the time whistling, I don’t think it’s necessary.”