Micah Richards says Chelsea sold one of world's most underrated stars
Former England defender Micah Richards says Chelsea sold one of the world's most underrated players in Marc Cucurella, calling the Spain left-back brilliant at the 2026 World Cup. Richards made the claim on The Rest is Football ahead of Spain's quarter-final against Belgium, after Cucurella completed a £52million move to Real Madrid.
Richards spoke as Spain prepared to face Belgium in Los Angeles on Friday night, with tournament favourites France awaiting the winner in the semi-finals. The former Manchester City star's verdict has reignited debate over whether Chelsea undervalued a defender who has played every minute of La Roja's campaign so far.
Key Takeaways
- Richards named Marc Cucurella the most underrated left-back in world football on The Rest is Football.
- Cucurella joined Real Madrid for £52m during the World Cup and has five clean sheets plus two assists for Spain.
- Alan Shearer agreed Cucurella is aggressive and divisive for opponents but invaluable for his own team.
- Richards backed Spain's full-backs to contain Belgium, who have scored 13 goals at the tournament.
- World Cup tensions also escalated after Egypt's defeat by Argentina, with the AFA reporting possible email hacking.
Who did Micah Richards say Chelsea undervalued?
Richards identified Cucurella as the most underrated left-back in world football while previewing Spain versus Belgium. The 27-year-old joined Chelsea from Brighton in a deal worth up to £63m in 2022 and, after a shaky start, established himself among the Premier League's best in the position.
He won the Club World Cup and Conference League last year but left for Madrid when Real came calling, a decision that left Blues captain Reece James devastated, according to Metro.co.uk.
Why is Cucurella standing out at World Cup 2026?
Spain began the tournament with a goalless draw against debutants Cape Verde but bounced back, most recently beating Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. Their defence is yet to concede a single goal, with Cucurella recording five clean sheets and two assists, more than any other La Roja player.
Richards said Cucurella always delivers defensively, reading the game and making tackles when opponents think they have beaten him. Going forward, he gives Spain a different dimension alongside Alex Baena on the left. Alan Shearer added that fans dislike facing Cucurella's aggression but would love him on their team.
What did Richards say about Cucurella leaving Chelsea?
Richards criticised earlier talk that Cucurella had disrespected Chelsea by discussing other clubs while still on the Blues' payroll. He said he did not like that behaviour, but wondered whether the move to Madrid had given Cucurella new confidence.
Cucurella had no hesitation in leaving when Real Madrid called, despite his success at Stamford Bridge. Richards now sees a player thriving on the biggest stage, just as Spain chase a semi-final place in Los Angeles.
Can Spain's defence stop Belgium's attack?
Spain are well-fancied to advance but face a Belgium side that has scored 13 goals, a tally matched only by France and Argentina at the World Cup. Richards believes Cucurella and Tottenham right-back Pedro Porro can deal with Leandro Trossard, Jeremy Doku and Charles De Ketelaere.
He told listeners it will be difficult for Belgium because Spain will push them back too far. The quarter-final caps a week of World Cup controversy elsewhere, after the Egyptian FA asked Fifa to remove referee Francois Letexier following a 3-2 last-16 loss to Argentina, and the Argentine FA reported possible unauthorised access to its email accounts. For more fast-moving stories, browse our Fintech & Crypto Alerts section.