Marc Cucurella’s determination to establish himself at Chelsea led him to reject offers from four different clubs, including two approaches from Manchester United. According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United’s attempt to secure Cucurella’s services at Old Trafford faltered due to a disagreement between Chelsea and the player regarding a contractual break clause. United desired the option to return the left-back to Chelsea in January if needed, especially given the injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia. However, both Chelsea and Cucurella were unconvinced by this arrangement, causing the deal to collapse. Consequently, Manchester United opted for Sergio Reguilon from Tottenham.
Furthermore, Manchester United expressed discontent when Mauricio Pochettino included Cucurella in the Carabao Cup match against AFC Wimbledon, rendering the Spaniard cup-tied and ineligible to participate in the tournament under its rules. If Cucurella had joined Old Trafford, he would have been unable to compete in the cup competition.
Despite numerous suitors, Cucurella remained steadfast in his desire to stay at Chelsea. Reportedly, RB Leipzig, Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad, and Fulham all approached Chelsea regarding the defender, but Cucurella was not inclined to make a move. Even Manchester City attempted to secure his services in January through a loan deal with an option to buy in the summer, but Chelsea rejected the offer. Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, had long admired Cucurella, and following Oleksandr Zinchenko’s departure for Arsenal, he sought to fill the vacancy with the Spanish talent.