‘Everything is difficult’: Chelsea star Marc Cucurella opens up on son’s autism struggle

Chelsea star Marc Cucurella has opened up on what it feels like living with a son who has autism, noting that the situation presents everyday problems that “nobody teaches you”.

Cucurella has enjoyed a stellar period on the pitch, returning to form with the Blues and winning Euro 2024 with Spain, where he was a regular starter. However, the 26-year-old faces a different battle off the pitch.

Over the years, Cucurella and his family have had to learn on the go with his eldest son, Mateo, being diagnosed with autism. It has presented challenges for his family of five – which includes wife Claudia and his other two children, Rio and Claudia.

Cucurella and his wife have had to overcome several issues with Mateo, who struggled at school, with his autism impacting every member of the family.

Marc Cucurella (Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)

He told the La Media Inglesa channel: “At Brighton he was still small. The doctor didn’t tell us what he had, he was still too young to know. It’s difficult. Nobody teaches you how to be a parent, but in the end you see. An autistic child doesn’t understand things like his siblings, you have to learn to understand him.

“It affects him a lot, you don’t see him well and you don’t know how to help him. He didn’t do well at regular school, he got upset, he wasn’t happy. He didn’t adapt, he stayed crying all the time.

“He would spend two or three hours and he didn’t like it, we had to go and get him. That also affects you a lot, you don’t see your child well and you don’t know how to help him.”

Cucurella discovered his son’s diagnosis just months after his £60million move to Chelsea. He struggled for form initially, which saw his minutes limited, and the 26-year-old then had to deal with life on and off the pitch.

“Football wasn’t going well. We couldn’t find a way to help him until we found another school in London and we’ve improved a lot. They help us there, we have talks, you learn how to handle it and you understand it. He makes himself understood, but you need to get to know him.”

The Spaniard did add: “There is a downside. Everything is harder, everything is more difficult. But there is also a good side. When you achieve something, a simple step forward, it gives much more satisfaction.”