'You have to learn to understand him' - Chelsea's Marc Cucurella reveals emotional story of son's autism diagnosis with 'nobody teaches you' warning

Cucurella and his family have had to overcome unexpected challenges after his son, Mateo, was diagnosed with autism. Living in a household of five, which includes his wife Claudia and their other two children, Rio and Claudia, the Spanish international has had to adapt to the realities of raising a child with special needs. The learning curve has been steep, with the condition affecting not only Mateo but also the entire family dynamic.

Reflecting on their journey, Cucurella explained that during his time at Brighton, when Mateo was still young, doctors were unable to provide a definitive diagnosis. This left him and his wife in the dark, struggling to understand their son’s unique challenges.

Speaking to La Media Inglesa, Cucurella shared: "At Brighton he was still small. The doctor didn't tell us what he had, he was still too young to know. It's difficult. Nobody teaches you how to be a parent, but in the end, you see. 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. He would spend two or three hours and he didn't like it, we had to go and get him. That also affects you a lot, you don't see your child well and you don't know how to help him."

Cucurella finally received clarity on Mateo’s condition after he moved to London. It was another challenging phase, with the Spaniard also grappling with his own struggles, as he found it difficult to make an immediate impact at Stamford Bridge following a £60 million transfer from the Seagulls.

"Football wasn't going well. We couldn't find a way to help him until we found another school in London and we've improved a lot," he said. "They help us there, we have talks, you learn how to handle it and you understand it. He makes himself understood, but you need to get to know him. There is a downside. Everything is harder, everything is more difficult. But there is also a good side. When you achieve something, a simple step forward, it gives much more satisfaction."

As Cucurella continues to balance his personal and professional life, he remains focused on his responsibilities at Chelsea. The Spaniard will be in contention for selection when the Blues face West Ham in their upcoming Premier League clash on Monday.