Gary Neville says £60m Chelsea star is damaging Spain's chances at Euro 2024
Marc Cucurella starts for Spain’s Euro 2024 opener against Croatia on Saturday (Getty)
Gary Neville believes Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella is damaging Spain’s chances of winning Euro 2024 this summer.
The 25-year-old has just finished his second season as Chelsea but continued to struggle for consistency following his £60 million move from Brighton in August 2022.
Cucurella was named in Spain’s squad for Euro 2024 and starts in their opening game against Croatia on Saturday afternoon.
Spain are in a tough group alongside Italy and Albania and former Manchester United defender Neville believes Cucurella is one reason why La Roja will not end up going all the way in the tournament.
‘We didn’t think he’d play,’ Neville told ITV.
‘He’s not been convincing at Chelsea, he’s played a few games towards the end of the season, he’s aggressive, he’s tenacious, he’s a busy little full-back.
‘That price tag still, to be fair, astounds everybody I think to this day.
Marc Cucurella has struggled for consistency since his £60m move to Chelsea (Reuters)
‘The Spanish defence has got a lot of experience now but there’s something just missing from Spain that makes you feel like they’re going to go all the way.
‘And I have to say, him [Cucurella] being at left-back probably is another example of why we think that.’
Meanwhile, Ian Wright believes Spain could be saving their other left-back, Alejandro Grimaldo, who had an impressive season at Bayer Leverkusen, for
‘You know what I was thinking because Grimaldo, who has done really well for Leverkusen, I think they’ve gone a little bit more defensive with Cucurella,’ Wright said.
‘Because Grimaldo can get forward maybe they’re saving him, they want to keep it tight because of the narrowness of Croatia.’
Neville then added: ‘There’s a massive shift in the last couple of years where actually these attacking full-backs now, we’ve seen Arsenal and Manchester City in our league playing with four centre-backs, really narrow defences.
‘I think managers are going a little bit more cautious with their back fours and letting the other players in front almost get on with it.’
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