Overview
- Cucurella made his first minutes for Real Madrid as a 61st-minute substitute on Sunday and was loudly jeered by Schalke supporters at the Veltins-Arena during a 3-0 friendly win.
- The hostility traces back to a handball by Cucurella in Spain’s Euro 2024 quarter-final with Germany that referee Anthony Taylor did not penalise and which UEFA’s referees' committee later said should have been a penalty.
- Real Madrid signed the 28-year-old from Chelsea in a deal reported at about €60 million, and he joined preseason late after extending his post-World Cup holiday following Spain’s tournament win.
- Cucurella publicly downplayed the jeers, praised his new teammates for easing his adaptation, and said he felt pleased with his debut and ready for the league campaign.
- The episode reflects sustained organised fan anger in Germany — including a replay petition — and could affect how visiting players are treated at German venues and how clubs manage crowd behaviour going forward.