Chelsea star admits to transfer 'regret' after chaotic Blues demand

Chelsea ace Marc Guiu has admitted he wishes Barcelona boss Hansi Flick had called to discuss his future before he departed for Stamford Bridge. But the Blues striker now believes the Premier League giants are the best club for him, even with his 'chaotic start to the season.

The Spain youth international, 19, joined Chelsea in 2024 whenthey activated his release clause worth a little over £5million. Guiu made 16 appearances in his debut season, predominantly in the west London side's Conference League-winning campaign, where he scored six goals.

Despite his desire to engage in conversation with German coach Flick, Guiu accepted it was time to depart Camp Nou, having come through the ranks at La Masia. With Robert Lewandowski and Vitor Roque ahead of him in the pecking order, the striker did not see a path into the side, though the latter has since returned to Brazil with Palmeiras.

“Maybe I could have played at Barça, but they had Lewandowski and Roque,” Guiu told TV3. “I spoke to Hansi Flick, but that was during the playoffs.

"I wish he had called me later to discuss my future, but that never happened. In the end, I realised the situation wasn’t in my favour and left."

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While Guiu was reserved to a back-up role last season, the teenager went in search of greater minutes in 2025/26. Guiu was not set to be part of Enzo Maresca's first-team plans and as a result went on loan to Sunderland.

Injury to Liam Delap saw Guiu recalled to the Italian's squad, but he has made just one fleeting appearance since. The Spaniard has not been perturbed, however, and is determined to succeed with Chelsea.

“We initially decided to go to Sunderland with great enthusiasm and excitement to get some minutes in the top flight and get some experience,” he told Spanish outlet RTVE. “In the end, there was an injury [to Delap], and I had to return to Chelsea, now with great enthusiasm and training hard every day.

"When Nico said no [to returning to Chelsea from Bayern], they called me, we talked about it, and it was quick. In the end, I want to succeed at Chelsea. And that's how it was."

Guiu spent less than a month with Sunderland before making his swift return, and the forward has admitted it was a chaotic time as the transfer window neared its end. But he was not disappointed.

“It was all a bit chaotic, but in the end, I'm a person who faces everything with the utmost positivity, and that's how I faced it, now enjoying every moment, because a footballer's career is short. And that's what I'm doing, enjoying every moment that life gives me.

“[There was] never disappointment [at leaving Sunderland]. I believe that every action I take in my career is because I want to. And that's it, I'm going to fight in every training session, in every game, every minute I have to play as many minutes as possible.

“Now I'm at Chelsea, and that's where I am. I'm from Chelsea, the best club in the world for me right now.”

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