Marc Cucurella is ‘very happy’ that Chelsea met Brighton’s valuation for the defender this summer amid the links with a move to Manchester City.
The 24-year-old recently signed for the Blues from the Seagulls, despite spending just one season on the south coast since his move from Getafe last year.
Throughout the course of the current transfer window, Cucurella was heavily linked with a move to City after such an impressive season at Brighton.
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However, Pep Guardiola’s side were reluctant to pay the asking price by his former club, with Chelsea soon signing him for around £55 million.
Despite being at the club for less than two weeks, he has already made two appearances for his new side.
His debut came in the win against Everton on the opening day of the season, before he made his first start for Chelsea in their draw against Spurs on Sunday.
During his first press conference since he made the switch to Stamford Bridge, the Spaniard has revealed he is pleased that the Blues met Brighton’s valuation for him.
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When speaking on the speculation that surrounded him this summer, he said: "A busy one!
“A lot of rumours. I think it was a good moment to move to a big club. Chelsea Is a big club. Very happy to stay here. Interested in me all summer. Happy to stay here.
"I'm very happy because it's a lot of money, Todd (Boehly) and the gaffer showed so much interest in me. I want to work hard, adapt to the team, to win and play good for the club."
Cucurella assisted Chelsea’s first goal against Spurs on Sunday, crossing into the box from a corner before fellow summer signing Kalidou Koulibaly volleyed home.
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Similar to his debut performance the weekend before, the left wing-back provided energy on the flanks for Thomas Tuchel's side.
However, he was involved in a controversial moment towards the end of the match.
Just moments before Harry Kane scored the equaliser in the 96th minute, Cucurella had his hair pulled by Cristian Romero, but he foul went unpunished.
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He was asked if he thought it was a foul, and replied: "Yes. For me it is too clear in the game, on the pitch.
"I didn't see it on the TV, the video. I think it's very clear but this is one error of the referee or VAR. Sometimes the referees have good decisions, sometimes not.
"This is not my problem. Maybe we need to work harder to not concede this goal in the last minute. I saw checking for a red card in the stadium. For me it is clear. In this moment, I don't know what happened.
"Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. This is football. In this game it's an error and in other games maybe the referee gives good decisions."
Topics: Marc Cucurella, Chelsea, Brighton And Hove Albion, Manchester City
Robert Calcutt