Boehly says he signed Marc Cucurella after Man City interest

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has described the frantic early days at Stamford Bridge after the May 2022 Boehly‑Clearlake takeover, saying he personally authorised the heavy investment in Marc Cucurella after learning a Premier League rival wanted him. With the established management team gone, he was thrust into the front line of recruitment and had to learn the transfer market on the job.

The deal for Cucurella eventually exceeded £60 million and raised eyebrows, with Brighton proved difficult negotiators and several other elite clubs monitoring the situation. The 27-year-old has since featured regularly for the Blues and won both the Conference League and the Club World Cup during his time in west London.

Boehly was candid about his role that summer: "Having taken over in the circumstances that we did, basically the whole management team left. I was stuck being interim Sporting Director for a summer, having no idea what made a good football player. But knowing that Marc Cucurella, if Man City wanted him, I want him.

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