Chelsea star Marc Cucurella reveals his son has autism
Yasmine Green
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has opened up about his family life, revealing in an interview with La Media Inglesa that his eldest son, Mateo, has autism.
The Spanish footballer shared that he and his wife, Claudia Rodríguez, learned of their son’s condition after moving to London. The diagnosis couldn’t be confirmed earlier due to Mateo’s young age. Cucurella admitted that parenting a child with autism is challenging because their needs differ from those of other children.
"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. That also affects you a lot, you don't see your child well and you don't know how to help him," Cucurella explained.
The situation improved after Mateo was enrolled in a new school in London, where he felt more comfortable. Cucurella and his wife have also grown to better understand and support their son’s needs.
Marc Cucurella and Claudia Rodríguez are raising three children together.
