Marc Cucurella Hails Real Madrid as Europe’s Best as Jose Mourinho Jokes Over Tattoo
Real Madrid defender Marc Cucurella has declared his club the best team in Europe following a dramatic rise in form that has seen him become an indispensable starter under manager Jose Mourinho. After an average start to life at the Bernabeu, the Spanish full-back turned his season around immediately after the last international break. Over the past month, his sensational displays on the left side of defense have locked down the position, effectively erasing any hopes of fellow defender Alvaro Carreras getting valuable playing minutes for Mourinho’s squad.
Speaking to Spanish radio broadcaster Cadena COPE, Marc Cucurella offered a candid look into the Real Madrid dressing room while sharing a lighthearted interaction with his head coach. Cucurella, who has become known for his extravagant trophy celebrations and bold promises, revealed that Mourinho recently sent him a photo of his own face, cheekily requesting an honorary tattoo on the defender’s body. Cucurella had previously gotten a permanent tribute inked on his body featuring Spain manager Luis de la Fuente following their international tournament triumph, prompting the Portuguese manager to angle for a similar portrait.
Mourinho’s tattoo hint and praise for Güler
During the interview, Cucurella singled out Turkish midfielder Arda Güler for high praise, noting that while Güler often flies under the radar in media coverage, Real Madrid becomes a completely different team whenever he is on the field. Cucurella even stated that he would pick Güler over high-profile attacking superstars like Kylian Mbappé, emphasizing how much balance and quality the youngster brings to Madrid’s setup.
The star defender also addressed debate regarding his defensive workload, pushing back directly against claims that teammate Yan Diomande provides him with more defensive cover than Vinicius Junior. Addressing those comparisons, Cucurella argued that any perceived difference comes down to narrative rather than actual effort, explaining that media observers simply pay varying degrees of attention to each player’s defensive contribution during a match.
Clasico triumph and Ballon d’Or chatter
Cucurella’s defensive authority was on full display during Real Madrid’s 2-1 El Clasico victory over Barcelona, where he restricted teenage winger Lamine Yamal along the wing. Addressing Yamal’s pre-match comments made prior to the Clasico battle, Cucurella stated that he preferred to focus purely on doing his job on the pitch rather than talking. He confirmed that he did not speak to Yamal after the final whistle.
His sharp uptick in form over the past month has even drawn unexpected praise on the global stage. Ahead of Monday night’s Ballon d’Or gala—where England striker Harry Kane and Barcelona’s Yamal are listed among the frontrunners—a former Premier League manager stunned fans by officially throwing Marc Cucurella’s name into the award conversation.
With Real Madrid established as Europe’s top side in his eyes, Cucurella remains focused on retaining his starting spot under Mourinho as the team prepares for its upcoming domestic and European fixtures.
Based on reports from
About The Author
