Cucurella sends World Cup message as he opens up on Real Madrid move

Marc Cucurella is the kind of soccer player “that’s becoming extinct.” “A simple guy in such a complicated world,” that’s how people in his hometown of Alella, up the coast from Barcelona, describe him. And he more than proved it during his interview with AS. Patient, smiling and relaxed, he finds himself balancing an exciting present and an even more exciting future. The World Cup and his move to Real Madrid. At the peak of his career, there isn’t much more he could ask for.

Speaking about Spain, with the national flag painted across his face, he delivers a message of belief: “Trust us.” Of José Mourinho, who has kept a close eye on him since their first conversation, he says: “He congratulated me after our first win and has sent me a few short messages.” And about Real Madrid, he reveals an interesting secret: “They told me not to even think about putting on a Real Madrid jersey! Florentino wants my first photo wearing the shirt to be with him.”

Let me read you a quote. “He’s not fast and he’s not strong. With all the data we collect from all these machines we have, he doesn’t stand out in any category. You’d never sign him based on that. But he’s a soccer player.” Do you know who said that?

“Yes. Mendilibar.”

How do you explain it? What does Cucurella have?

“I honestly don’t know,” he says with a smile. “It’s true that nowadays there’s so much focus on statistics and those kinds of things, and maybe I’m not a player who stands out in those areas. But once you have me on your team, I bring a lot of things that aren’t always obvious in the day-to-day, especially in training. I guess that’s what he meant.”

You’re probably the kind of player coaches love because you bring more than the numbers show. One of those coaches is [Spain coach] Luis de la Fuente. You recently said you’d get a tattoo of you if Spain wins the World Cup. He gave you your debut with the U-19s, the U-21s, at the Olympics... What does he mean to you?

“He’s been incredibly important. We’ve known each other for a long time. He already knew that beyond what I can contribute on the field, I’m also an important person for the group off it. Especially at the beginning, I think that’s what made him choose me for the squad, particularly before the European Championship. Everything worked out really well. I’m very happy to be here. I have a lot to thank him for because another coach might not have taken the chance on me. Before that March call-up ahead of the Euros, I’d never been with the senior national team. He trusted me, and I’m grateful for the confidence he’s shown in me.”

“Maybe another coach wouldn’t have taken a chance on me.”

Cucurella, about De la Fuente

You mentioned the group, something everyone talks about. Mikel Oyarzabal said this team is the kind of group where you can lean on anyone and even cry if you need to.

“That’s really important because we spend so much time together. If there wasn’t such a good atmosphere, it would become exhausting because there are long periods where we don’t really have much to do. But everyone talks to everyone. When I was in England, I had my own little group. I got along well with everyone, but there was always a difference when I came to the national team. Here we’re all connected. Everyone gets along with everyone. We share similar interests and ideas. That’s one of our biggest strengths because it makes everyone feel comfortable. And that shows on the field. Whoever gets the chance to play gives everything for his teammates, and that’s what gives this team the chance to achieve something special.”

Luis de la Fuente said the players pay close attention to what’s written about them, even if he doesn’t. What do you hear from your friends and people on the street? And what would you say to those who have doubts because Spain hasn’t played as beautifully as it did at the Euros?

“I think that’s normal. We’ve earned these high expectations because we’ve had two really good years. Maybe our soccer hasn’t been quite at the same level, or maybe we haven’t been as fluid. But I’d rather not play as fluently and beat Uruguay 1-0 than play brilliantly and lose 1-0 because we conceded from a corner. Championship teams have to know how to win in every kind of game. The positive thing is that it’s all in our hands. If we rediscover that rhythm and fluidity, we can be unstoppable. But there are already positives. We haven’t conceded a goal. We’ve shown we can compete in difficult situations. We just have to keep improving where we need to, and I believe we’ll go all the way and peak at exactly the right time.”

“The doubts are understandable. We’ve earned those high expectations. If we hit our rhythm and play with fluency, we can be unstoppable.”

Marc Cucurella

The coach asked for greater protection for the players. How did you experience the game against Uruguay? Did it cross the line?

“More than crossing a line, every team tries to get as much as it can. We knew they were fighting for survival and were going to give everything. More than anything, the referee was responsible because once he allowed that style of game, things got out of hand. You learn from everything. The important thing was that we didn’t lose our heads or get distracted. We stayed composed. Then we showed we could fight when we had to. I’m proud of the game we played. It wasn’t spectacular, but some games have to be won that way. That’s why I’m happy with it.”

“Against Uruguay, it wasn’t so much that they crossed the line. The referee was to blame. Once he let things go, he lost control of the game.”

Cucurella, on the battle against Uruguay

You’ll always remember this World Cup. Hopefully because Spain earns its second star, but for you it’ll also be the World Cup where you signed for Real Madrid. Have you had time to process it and what it means to be a Real Madrid player?

“Not yet. My life is still the same. We’re with the national team, so it feels like nothing has really changed because we’re cut off from the outside world. Hopefully that moment takes a while to arrive because that would mean we’re doing well here. But I’m also excited to start this new chapter, to meet my teammates, see the training complex, experience the Bernabéu... I’ve spent a long time in London and at Chelsea, so it’ll be a big and important change for me. I’m really looking forward to it.”

“I’m looking forward to meeting my teammates, seeing the Bernabéu...”

Marc Cucurella

What’s it like when you look at your phone and see José Mourinho calling?

“As someone who loves soccer, having a coach like Mourinho call you, explain his ideas and tell you he wants to work with you gives you a huge amount of confidence. It’s an honor when a coach with his career says such positive things about you.”

Have you stayed in touch since that first conversation?

“Yes, we’ve stayed in contact. He congratulated me after our first win and has sent me a few short messages. It’s always positive to stay in touch. I’m looking forward to meeting him in person and getting to work with him.”

“Mourinho congratulated me after the first win, and he’s sent me a few messages since then.”

Marc Cucurella

Have you spoken with Florentino Pérez? You know he often says, ‘He was born to play for Real Madrid.’ Can you picture him saying that about you?

(Laughs) “It’ll be incredible to hear those words. I haven’t had the chance to speak with him yet. The only thing they told me was not to even think about putting on a Real Madrid jersey because the president wants my first photo wearing the shirt to be with him. So I’m happy to follow orders and get off to the right start. My presentation will be a special moment for me and my family. I hope I’m not too nervous and that I can really enjoy it.”

“It’ll be incredible to hear people say I was born to play for Real Madrid.”

Marc Cucurella

Have your future teammates been giving you a hard time?

“Not yet. I imagine a lot of people here are focused on what’s at stake in the World Cup. We’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other. The season is very long and we’ll spend a lot of time together.”

Enzo Fernández did congratulate you...

“He did,” (smiles). “We’re very close friends and we’ve built a great relationship. If the rumors are true and he could join Real Madrid, then I wish the best for my friend. If he wants to take that step, he’ll be more than welcome. I don’t know anything, though. We’ll see. Stay tuned!”

“Enzo (Fernández) congratulated me. I don’t know anything, but if he wants to make the move, he’d be more than welcome.”

Cucurella on the possibility of Enzo signing for Madrid

Have the Barcelona guys been teasing you? You’ll be bitter rivals now.

“Not really. We all get along very well. We’ve got a great group. Whenever something good happens for any player and for their future, everyone’s happy for him. They made the usual jokes about us becoming enemies now,” (laughs). “But they’re genuinely happy for me.”

You’ve spent plenty of time defending Lamine Yamal in training and I’m sure you’ve given him advice. Now you’ll be facing him in El Clásico.

“That’s just how soccer works. I wish him all the best. Players like him are very difficult because they always have something unexpected. When the time comes, I’ll try to play my best game, do everything I can, and most importantly, help my team win.”

Can anyone really become an anti-Lamine? That’s what they’ll ask of you at Madrid.

“Soccer is a game, and for me, whatever happens on the field stays on the field. I can have a big battle with a teammate and still have a great relationship with him afterward. Or I can play against one of my friends and then go have dinner with him afterward without any problem. When we face each other, I’ll give everything for my team and do my best to stop him. Then when we’re back with Spain, everything will stay the same.”

“I’ll go head-to-head with Lamine in a Clásico, but with Spain, everything will stay the same.”

Marc Cucurella

We have to ask... Will you be able to convince your uncle [who said he was very anti-Madridista when the move was announced] to support Real Madrid?

“Yes, it’s all good. Everyone has their own opinions. I think he said what he said...” (he pauses and smiles), “...not to go viral or as a joke, but he’s family. He’s very important to me and he hasn’t missed a single game I’ve played. He’ll probably always be a Barcelona fan, but when he watches Real Madrid he’ll want me to do well. I think...” (he pauses and smiles again), “...he’ll want us to win. Having a professional soccer player in the family isn’t something that happens every day. Having one who plays for Real Madrid, with everything that represents, is something to be proud of. As for what he said, well, he said it. That’s all.”

You once said you were terrified the first time you trained with Lionel Messi. What would it be like if you faced him again now?

“I’d go all out against him. That’s what I’d have to do. Hopefully we play Argentina because that would mean we’ve reached the World Cup final. He’s one of the best players in the world and the level he’s playing at is incredible. We’d try to play our game, make him uncomfortable and stop him from playing his soccer. Then we’d try to win, because that’s what we all want.”

Oyarzabal told us to believe in Spain. Gavi talked about De la Fuente. Dani Olmo said it’s time for Spain’s second star. What headline would you like to give us?

“Wow... the bar is really high!” (laughs). “I don’t know... Just trust us. That’s it. There were some difficult years when, as a fan, you didn’t feel the excitement around the national team like you do now. People drifted away a little. It felt like they weren’t enjoying it anymore. We’ve brought some of that excitement back. Since the Euros and now at this World Cup, I’ve seen more and more people getting behind Spain. Fans want to support us. They’re getting together to watch the games. There’s a real buzz around the team. So just keep believing. We really want to make history and achieve something special. It’s a long journey. Maybe we didn’t start exactly the way we wanted, but this team is highly motivated, full of confidence, and we’ll give absolutely everything we’ve got to make our fans proud.”

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