Marc Cucurella: Bio, Salary, Net worth, Lifestyle, Club and International Career

Marc Cucurella Family and Early Life

Marc Cucurella was born in the Catalan village of Alella. He was attracted to the ball at a very young age. But it was a different sport as he displayed his early talent in Futsal at the age of four. His father, Oscar, spotted his talent and took him to the camp of the local club Espanyol. His incredible performances were noted by other scouts who gave him the breakthrough.

At the same time, Cucurella was also growing his iconic hair and braids in honor of his mother, which now is a unique physical trait associated with the defender. His role models were the explosive defenders David Luiz and Carles Puyol. Uncannily, he shares a similar hairstyle with them and says he is inspired by the battling spirit of his role models.

Playing Style and Strength

Marc Cucurella is an example of an archetypical flying fullback. He is versatile, dynamic and more importantly, full of energy. Cucurella is everything you need from a modern fullback. Firstly, on the ball, he is a solid runner who holds the width and takes on the fullback. He is also capable of creating good chances through dangerous crosses and cutbacks.

The Spaniard's ability to shoot from outside the attack and draw defenders adds another element of surprise to his game. He can also attack the box and score headers just like his winner against Manchester United recently. He can play in a back four as well as a back three, or five.

Cucurella’s attacking strengths should not let you underestimate his primary defensive prowess. He is a solid tackler with a good reading of the game. He is physical enough, thanks to his height, to go toe to toe with pacy wingers and strong forwards. His reach helps him block some shots and intercept a few crucial passes. Cucurella can play as a fullback or as a wide center-back if the need arises to help his side in the buildup.

A negative that has to be noted in his play style is the loss of concentration at times. He tends to leave his winger unmarked, leading to chances. Also, his heading ability in the defensive box is a bit susceptible.

Marc Cucurella Net Worth

Marc Cucurella is a Puma ambassador and earns decent revenue from the apparel manufacturer. He has amassed a net worth of £22.5 million thanks to his eye-watering wages at Chelsea and signing bonuses wherever he has moved.

Marc Cucurella Salary

Marc Cucurella Partner

Marc Cucurella is in a long-term relationship with Spaniard Claudia Rodriguez. The pair began dating in Spain before she followed him to England. They have three children together. Claudia has said yes to a camera following them for the Amazon Prime documentary “Married to the Game”.

The couple recently shared a harrowing experience where their London residence was burgled when Claudia was home along with her children. They are expected to tie the knot soon.

Marc Cucurella Career

Club Career

Cucurella was a natural at futsal but had to transition to football to pursue a career. His father took him to Espanyol, where he made a name for himself. He displayed great progress with the club and caught the eyes of Barcelona’s scouts. Guillermo Amor and Albert Puig noticed him and referred him to the club. Cucurella joined Barcelona’s famous La Masia in 2012. After excelling in youth football, he was promoted to Barcelona B in 2016. After helping them win promotion to the Segunda Division in 2017, he renewed his contract with the Catalan giants before leaving for Eibar on loan.

Another promising loan to Getafe saw him win a permanent transfer to Getafe. He was unable to break into Barcelona’s first team past Jordi Alba. Under Jose Bordalas at Getafe, Cucurella earned the reputation of a world-class fullback. He was fierce in his tackles, and energetic in the attack. He was the subject of an intense bidding war, and Brighton won the race for his signature.

Marc Cucurella took to the Premier League like a fish to water as he thrived in Graham Potter’s attacking side, which magnified the fullback’s impact. He made impressive contributions in attack and defense to be named as the club's Player of the Season. Chelsea immediately wanted him and signed him for £55 million in 2022. Cucurella had a difficult first couple of seasons at Chelsea. The constant sacking and changing of managers, along with a bloated squad, prevented him from expressing himself fully. There were doubts over his defensive abilities as well. However, things turned for the better this season as Enzo Maresca was appointed. The Italian manager had a clear plan and made Cucurella a key member of the squad. It helped the Spaniard regain his confidence and helped his side compete for Champions League spots.

International Career

Marc Cucurella has played for Spain at all youth levels as his talent was recognised from a young age. He even captained the under-21s in the 2021 European U21 championship, where they were beaten by Portugal in the semis. He earned his first senior cap due to the senior team missing out on a friendly because of COVID-19. Cucurella became a regular in the national team later on. He started the finals and played a lovely cross for Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored the winner as they beat England 2-1. The full back was also named in the Team of the Tournament.

Marc Cucurella Awards and Achievements

Marc Cucurella’s most impressive achievement in his career is the successful triumph of the 2024 Euros. His winning assist and robust performance in the finals made him a fan favourite. He also won a silver medal with the Spanish U23 team at the 2020 Olympics. Cucurella picked up a Copa del Rey medal in 2018 thanks to his involvement with the Barcelona squad.

On an individual front, he was named in the 2024 Euros team of the tournament. His stellar season with Brighton earned him the Player of the Season with the club in 2022.