Read 3 minutes19 Jun 2026 08:44 PM IST
Coming into the FIFA World Cup, the Spanish squad did not have a single Real Madrid player – a previously unthinkable proposition. But there will be one when the tournament is over, and that creates a lot of discomfort.
Defender Marc Cuquerella, a graduate of the Barcelona academy and a player on the Catalan club’s roll until 2020, moved from Chelsea to Real Madrid on the eve of the tournament, surprising most people – along with eight of his national team-mates playing for the Camp Nou club. In fact, Cucurella – who said the move to Real Madrid was a “big step” and that he identifies with the club’s DNA – is now sure of an interesting reception when he travels to Barcelona for El Clasico.
Despite one of the team’s best performances in a disappointing goalless draw, he has already been booed by a Barcelona contingent of Spanish fans in their opener against Cape Verde.
“We only found out in training the day before, well, after the session,” Gavi, one of the Barca players in the squad, was quoted as saying by RAC1. “Nobody knew. He kept it quiet, bastard. We didn’t expect it.”
A dog is naive not to expect a reaction after its move.
“You have to respect people’s opinions,” he said on Thursday. “I’m very grateful for what the Barcelona academy has given me. But like everything in life, it’s about phases.
“I thought it was the right decision to make. When a team like Madrid comes to you, it’s very difficult to turn it down. I had no doubt that it was the right move.”
The Madrid-Barcelona dynamic is always at the forefront of the national team and many are already looking forward to the next Clasico.
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“Now he has to defend against Lamine (Yamal),” added Gavi. “[Madrid] Full-backs have changed a lot in recent years. Laminella is very hard to stop – I hope he is unstoppable.
“But it will be great. I like Cuckoo as a competitor. He is stubborn, he is intense… He is a good signing for Madrid and I am happy for him.”
Dani Olmo, another Barcelona star, was also surprised and a little disappointed.
“We didn’t expect it. He put it in. If that’s what he wanted, I’m happy for him because he’s my friend. Now he’s suffered in the league and so have we.”