Why Fans Booed Every Time Marc Cucurella Touched the Ball in His Real Madrid Debut
A group of fans at the Veltins Arena booed Marc Cucurella every time he touched the ball during his first game for Real Madrid in their last summer friendly against Schalke.
Cucurella finally got to play for Los Blancos on Sunday afternoon, two months after moving from Chelsea in a deal worth about £51.8 million.
For the 28-year-old, it was a special moment, fulfilling his dream of playing for Real Madrid since he was a kid.
He came on as a substitute for Alvaro Carreras in the 61st minute but was met with boos from the German crowd, who jeered every time he had the ball.
So, why the boos? It seems fans remembered an incident from the Euro 2024 quarter-final between Spain and Germany.
In that game, Spain won 2-1 after extra time. Germany was denied a late penalty when Cucurella seemed to block a shot by Jamal Musiala with his arm.
The referee didn’t give a penalty, saying Cucurella’s arm was close to his body. This decision was criticized by many in Germany. Later, UEFA admitted the referee made a mistake and Germany should have gotten that penalty.
Still, despite the boos, Cucurella enjoyed his debut. “I’m very happy. Behind this moment is a lot of hard work, and all the effort over the years has paid off,” he said after the match. “I’m excited about what’s happening and hope to keep winning and enjoying this experience.”
His big-money move suggests he’ll have a starting role in Mourinho’s team soon. Talking about Mourinho’s impact, Cucurella said: “He brings a lot of confidence and a relaxed vibe. We just have to do what we know on the pitch and enjoy ourselves.”
He added, “We all want to win and have a great season.”
As he told Real Madrid TV, playing for Los Blancos was a childhood dream come true. “As a kid playing football, getting a chance to play for a club like this was impossible to say no to,” he said.
“I didn’t think twice when the chance came. I’ve seen all those magical nights, those great comebacks at the Bernabeu, and the Champions League trophies they’ve won. Being part of it now is a big responsibility but also a wonderful challenge.”