Real Madrid News
Reason why Schalke fans booed Real Madrid’s new signing on debut
Marc Cucurella’s Real Madrid debut was not entirely straightforward, despite the Spanish international helping his new side secure a comfortable 3-0 victory over Schalke 04.
The left-back was among two Real Madrid players targeted by sections of the home support, with Vinicius Jr. also receiving abuse during the match.
For Cucurella, however, the hostile reaction appeared to come from an incident that Germany fans have clearly not forgotten.
Still, the whistles did little to spoil his evening, as Cucurella came off the bench in the 61st minute to replace Alvaro Carreras and left Germany pleased with his first appearance in the famous white shirt.
Why was Cucurella booed?
The reaction towards Cucurella appears to have its roots in Spain’s meeting with Germany at Euro 2024.
During the quarter-final, the ball struck Cucurella’s hand inside the penalty area, but referee Anthony Taylor decided against awarding Germany a penalty.
‼️ La razón de los pitos a Cucurella en Alemania, la mano de la Euro 2024. pic.twitter.com/BzieXpgcDJ
— Casper🧢 (@CasperLDS_) August 16, 2026
Spain eventually won the contest 2-1, booking their place in the next round.
The incident remained a major talking point in Germany, particularly after UEFA later acknowledged that a penalty should have been awarded.
Since then, Cucurella has continued to receive boos from German supporters whenever he has played in the country, and the Real Madrid friendly against Schalke proved no different.
Every touch was met with a hostile response from sections of the crowd, but the new Real Madrid signing did not allow the atmosphere to affect his performance.
Vinicius was also subjected to abuse during the match, making for an uncomfortable backdrop to what was otherwise a positive final test for Real Madrid before the start of the new season.
Cucurella delighted despite hostile reception
Cucurella entered the match in the second half, replacing Carreras in the 61st minute, and was able to get his first minutes as a Real Madrid player.
Speaking after the game, the left-back made it clear that the reception from the Schalke fans had not taken away from what was a memorable personal occasion.
“Very happy. It was a great game from everyone. Great result. I’m really looking forward to it. The wait felt long.”
The Spain international also spoke about how he had adapted to his new surroundings, crediting the quality of the Real Madrid squad for making his first appearance easier.
On his experience on the pitch, Cucurella added: “I felt very good. Easy with these teammates.”
His debut came just days before Real Madrid are due to begin their La Liga campaign, giving him an early opportunity to understand the demands and rhythm of his new team.
In what will come as a pleasing development for fans, Fabrizio Romano reports that Real Madrid forward Rodrygo could make a comeback from his injury earlier than expected.
The 25-year-old Brazilian international has been out of action since March after suffering an ACL injury during a La Liga game against Getafe.
Due to the complete rupture of the ACL, coupled with associated meniscus damage, it was suggested that the attacker was staring at a lengthy time out on the sidelines and might not return until 2027.
In fact, the forward’s father, Eric Goes, recently stated in an interview that the Real Madrid ace could be back in February next year, just before the business end of the campaign.
Rodrygo could be back in December
However, as per the update from Romano, Rodrygo’s comeback could happen well before that expected date.
Indeed, if things continue to progress at the current rate, the 25-year-old attacker might return to action in December or by January 2027 at the latest.
This will come as a welcome boost for Jose Mourinho & co., considering that Rodrygo is a valuable player for the team.
Even though he had endured a tough spell prior to his form, the Brazilian’s versatility, work rate off the ball, and eye for a goal make him an asset.
Rodrygo eager to be back at his best
The update from Romano further states that Rodrygo feels very grateful to Real Madrid for all the help and support they have given him during this difficult phase of his career.
As such, the Brazilian international has made it a mission to return to action in the best shape possible and make an impact from the get-go.
The attacker has only recently begun working on the pitch with the ball indicating the significant progress he has made on the road to recovery.
And, if there are no setbacks, Real Madrid could recover one of their ace attackers before the end of the current year.
So far in his career, Rodrygo has made 297 appearances for Real Madrid, scoring 71 goals. He has a contract with the club until 2028.
