Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf has urged supporters of the club to back Marc Cucurella following the Spanish left-back’s recent transfer to Real Madrid. Cucurella, who joined Chelsea from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022 for £62 million, completed a £52 million move to the La Liga giants earlier this week, ending a four-year spell at Stamford Bridge.

Cucurella’s future at Chelsea became uncertain after he publicly criticized the club’s management in March. Despite this, Leboeuf emphasized the importance of the 25-year-old’s contributions during his time with the Blues. Speaking via Boyle Sports, the former Chelsea player acknowledged initial concerns over the high transfer fee but stressed that Cucurella had proven his value on the pitch.

“Marc Cucurella has been crucial to Chelsea over the past two or three years,” Leboeuf said. “At the start, I was very concerned when we signed him for £60m, it seemed insane, and I wondered what was going on. But he showed how important he is to the squad, he brought the spirit and aggressiveness that are a real symbol of Chelsea right now. He has served Chelsea very well and Blues fans shouldn’t be resentful towards him.”

Cucurella, currently participating in the World Cup, has also faced criticism from Barcelona supporters due to his decision to join their archrivals. A product of La Masia, Barcelona’s famed youth academy where he joined at age 14, Cucurella’s move to the Santiago Bernabeu has provoked a strong backlash from Nou Camp fans.

In response, Cucurella acknowledged the reactions but defended his decision, citing personal and professional reasons. “I have to respect everyone’s opinions. I am very thankful for everything I have experienced in my career and what I learnt in La Masia,” he said. “But there’s different chapters in life and I thought this was the right step for me. When Madrid comes for you, it is very difficult to say no.”

The player also spoke about the pressures associated with wearing the Real Madrid jersey, stressing his readiness to compete for trophies. “Pressure will be high, but when you move to a club like this what you want is to fight for titles. I am ready for that,” he said.

Cucurella further reflected on his career journey and personal life, mentioning his wife’s family connection to Real Madrid as a factor influencing his move. “My career has not been easy. Having the chance to play for Real Madrid is a fantastic way to top my career off. My wife and her family were always Madrid fans. When she met me, I guess you stop living football as a fan and start thinking more about what’s best for you – this is a business and not everything will be how you imagined. She will be very happy with the move to Real. She has been there in the tough moments and now I am happy that we can enjoy this together,” Cucurella added.