Marc Cucurella is a contender to leave Chelsea this summer after the side failed to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Despite Xabi Alonso's appointment, Cucurella is rumoured to want out of west London and move to a club competing for Europe's biggest honours.
And given the 27-year-old's past connection to Barcelona — the youth academy he came through — the left-back has been linked with a return to the Nou Camp.
Irrespective of Cucurella's desire to leave Stamford Bridge, moving back to Catalonia won't be straightforward, though.
Barcelona will only move for Marc Cucurella on one condition
Barcelona aren't blessed with the same kind of wealth some of England's biggest clubs are.
Ever since Lionel Messi left in 2021, Barcelona have typically agreed loan deals or sold before they bought, and the same thing looks like it needs to happen again this time.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Hansi Flick's side will only 'enter the market' for Cucurella if Alejandro Balde leaves in the same window.
The problem for Cucurella is that Balde isn't actually up for transfer — Barcelona don't want to lose him — so if he does leave, he'll have to force the issue himself.
Several clubs, including Aston Villa and Inter Milan, have Balde within their sights, but unless the 22-year-old formally requests to move on, he'll be staying put, and that would mean Cucurella's chances of returning to his former club will be dashed.
Plenty of other clubs interested
Although joining Barcelona will require several moving parts coming together, Cucurella is still a contender to leave Chelsea this summer.
The 29-time La Liga champions aren't the only club interested in the former Brighton and Hove Albion star.
Atletico Madrid, and manager Diego Simeone in particular, are believed to be huge fans of the Spaniard with Manchester City also in the mix ahead of Enzo Maresca taking over from Pep Guardiola.
Cucurella is currently away on international duty with Spain for the 2026 World Cup, and although his focus will be on the tournament, all the noise back home is where he'll be playing his football next season.
During his four years with the Blues, Cucurella, who has three years left on his contract, has scored nine goals and registered 13 assists in 163 games in all competitions.
He was part of the Chelsea team that lifted the 2024-25 UEFA Conference League and 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
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