Real Madrid rookie praises Lamine Yamal: 'I don't think anyone can cope'
Marc Cucurella discusses his recent transfer to Real Madrid, praises young talent Lamine Yamal and reflects on the quick decision-making process behind the deal.
Marc Cucurella became the center of attention in Spain after he signed a contract with Real Madrid, turning down the opportunity to return to FC Barcelona as well as turning down Atletico Madrid. As a former student of La Masia, the Spanish left-back has been mentioned a lot recently when he chose to sign with the rival team, for a fee of up to 55 million euros plus 5 million euros in additional clauses.
In an interview with El Mundo, Cucurella shared about his decision to choose Real Madrid over Barça and Atletico Madrid, and praised young talent Lamine Yamal. One of the players carrying many of Spain's expectations at the upcoming 2026 World Cup is Lamine, and Cucurella believes the Barcelona winger has developed significantly since the European Championship. "I've noticed he's changed a lot since the European Championship; I think he's matured a lot. He's been playing professional football for many years now, so he knows what he has to do," Cucurella said.
Cucurella emphasized that fame has not changed Yamal's personality. "It was magical. I went on holiday to Dubai and even met a poster of Lamine there. But he handled it very well, very naturally; he was still the same boy as before. More mature, but still the same boy without being a star or famous like he is now," he added. "That's the best thing about him - the way he handles things so naturally at this age. And at 18, I don't think anyone can deal with that."
Cucurella explained that the transfer to Real Madrid happened very quickly. "Yes, definitely. I think everything was arranged in just a day and a half or two days. For me, everything went better, faster and without any trouble," he said. The former Chelsea man admitted that he had other options but insisted that Madrid's interest made the decision easier. "When the offer from Madrid came, I didn't think twice; I thought this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Ultimately, playing for Real Madrid is an honor and not many players can say that, so I didn't have any doubts. I think both I and the people around me - my family - were clear that this was an opportunity we couldn't refuse, and I'm very happy with the decision we made."
Cucurella's transfer is especially notable given his background in Barcelona's academy. However, he believes that a football career is formed through many different stages and opportunities. "Life has many different stages. In this case, I had to make an important decision and I don't have any doubts; I think this is a big step for me. When you are young, you dream of playing for big clubs, and I think Real Madrid is one of them – it is the club with the most Champions League titles in the world – and I hope to win many titles with them and have a great time here.
Related Articles
Teams
Players