Marc Cucurella Discusses His Son Mateo’s Autism Journey and How He Overcame Family Struggles in London

Marc Cucurella Discusses His Son Mateo’s Autism Journey and How He Overcame Family Struggles in London

Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has always been known for his impressive skills on the field, but off the pitch, he has faced a personal journey that has shaped his life in unexpected ways.

The 26-year-old recently shared insights into his experience as a father to his eldest son, Mateo, who has autism.

A Year of Personal and Professional Triumphs

Over the past year, Cucurella has had a remarkable run, both personally and professionally.

He helped Spain win Euro 2024 and has become an essential player for Chelsea under manager Enzo Maresca.

The Spaniard, who began his career at Barcelona and went on to shine at Getafe and Brighton, now balances the demands of top-tier football with his role as a father to three children: Mateo, Rio, and Claudia, with his partner Claudia Rodriguez.

Mateo’s Autism Diagnosis and the Early Struggles

In a heartfelt conversation on La Media Inglesa, Cucurella spoke candidly about his son Mateo’s autism and the challenges it brings to their family life.

Cucurella recalled how, while at Brighton, Mateo was still very young when they first started noticing signs, but the diagnosis came later, after the family moved to Chelsea.

“At Brighton, he was still small,” Cucurella explained.

“The doctor didn’t tell us exactly what was going on, as he was too young to understand.”

The revelation of Mateo’s condition brought its own set of challenges. “It’s difficult.

Nobody teaches you how to be a parent, but in the end, you just try to learn and adapt.”

Adjusting to Life with an Autistic Child

As a parent, Cucurella and Rodriguez quickly realized that Mateo’s condition meant he couldn’t process things the same way his siblings could. ”

An autistic child doesn’t understand things like his siblings, you have to learn to understand him,” Cucurella shared.

It was especially tough when Mateo struggled at regular school, becoming upset and crying frequently.

“He didn’t adapt, and it affected him deeply,” Cucurella reflected.

“We had to go pick him up after just a few hours.”

Finding Help and Progressing Slowly

After Cucurella made his £65million move to Chelsea in the summer of 2022, the family faced even more difficulties.

With Cucurella’s football career not going as smoothly as he hoped and his son’s challenges at school, it was a time of immense stress. “Football wasn’t going well,” Cucurella said.

“But we couldn’t find a way to help him until we found another school in London that worked better for him.”

Through their newfound support, the family began to see improvements.

“They help us, we have talks, and you learn how to handle it better.

Now, Mateo can communicate and make himself understood, but it took time to get to this point.”

The Joy of Progress, Despite the Challenges

Despite the difficulties, Cucurella spoke about the satisfaction he feels when Mateo makes progress, even in small ways. “There is a downside.

Everything is harder, everything is more difficult,” Cucurella acknowledged.

“But when you see even a simple step forward, it gives you so much more satisfaction.”

As Cucurella continues to juggle his professional career with the challenges of being a parent, his focus remains on the wellbeing of his family, especially his son.

“Everything is worth it when you see him progressing,” Cucurella added.

Cucurella is set to return to action for Chelsea on Monday, when the Blues take on West Ham in the Premier League.