Marc Cucurella admits trying to convince Euro 2024 star to join Chelsea over Barcelona

Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has confessed he has been trying to convince Athletic Club winger Nico Williams to move to Stamford Bridge this summer.

The duo are both enjoying excellent campaigns with Spain at Euro 2024, after which Williams is expected to receive significant transfer interest from clubs across Europe.

Barcelona are known admirers of Williams but, while Cucurella admitted the winger would be a good signing at Camp Nou, he urged the flying winger to make the move to Chelsea instead.

"He is a great player, he is bringing out all his potential, it is a source of pride that he is on our team, that he is our teammate and with players like him everything is easier," Cucurella told SPORT.

"He would be a great signing for Barcelona, but it all depends on your opinion. I'm pushing him to sign for Chelsea. In the end it all depends on him. He's very young, with a lot of experience, and I think he'll be a great player."

AS recently reported that Chelsea are prepared to trigger Williams' €58m (£49m) release clause, although 90min understands the Blues are among the sides to have concerns over the winger's high wage demands.

Chelsea and Barcelona have already butted heads this summer. 18-year-old striker Marc Guiu opted to snub the chance to sign a contract extension at the Catalan giants and instead took his talents to Stamford Bridge in a deal worth a bargain €6m (£5m), with Barcelona powerless to stop him due to the release clause in his contract.

"We spoke and I told him that if he needed anything, he should let me know," Cucurella said of 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 see a youngster lacking the patience needed to make the breakthrough at Barcelona, Cucurella insisted the situation is not as simple as that.

"It's complicated," he explained. "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."

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