Real Madrid’s €60m coup faces German backlash for Cucurella

Marc Cucurella completed a €60 million (£51.8m) transfer from Chelsea to Real Madrid at the start of the summer window, joining the Spanish giants as a World Cup‑winning left‑back. The 28‑year‑old made his first appearance for Los Blancos on Sunday in a pre‑season friendly against Schalke.

Cucurella and fellow newcomer Yan Diomande both made their debuts after an hour of the match, while Jude Bellingham earned his first minutes of the campaign, AFP reported. Cucurella entered the Veltins‑Arena in the 61st minute, replacing Alvaro Carreras, and featured for 30 minutes as Real Madrid secured a 3‑0 victory.

German backlash rooted in Euro 2024 incident

German supporters booed him each time he touched the ball, a reaction traced to the Euro 2024 quarter‑final when Cucurella blocked Jamal Musiala’s goal‑bound effort with his hand. Referee Anthony Taylor declined a penalty, a decision later acknowledged by UEFA as an error, and more than 350,000 fans signed a petition demanding the match be replayed.

World Cup triumph and extended break

Following the player’s international triumph in America last month, the defender was handed an extended summer holiday before joining Real Madrid. The World Cup winner’s arrival was part of the Spanish club’s summer reinforcement strategy.

“I am very happy. Behind all this, there is a lot of work, and all the effort I’ve put in over the years has been worth it,” Cucurella said.

He later reflected on the hostility, stating: “I realised it for the first time when my name was read out before the game and a lot of people whistled… I thought about it a bit and then realised it was because of the handball situation… I didn’t think much about it, but at the same time I was a bit sad that people came to the game just to boo a single player… Some people wasted their tickets.”

Real Madrid have added a World Cup‑winning defender to their squad despite the vocal opposition he faces in Germany, while Cucurella sees his debut as the start of a title‑winning chapter and an opportunity to enjoy his experience at the historic club.