A promising Real Madrid starlet has been forced to retire from football at just 19 years old.
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Midfielder Marc Cucalon, regarded as one of the brightest talents in the club's esteemed youth academy, has been tragically forced to retire following a series of serious injury issues.
Cucalon, who was scouted from Real Zaragoza at the age of 11 in 2016, quickly made an impression at the club's Valdebebas training complex.
He advanced through the ranks and was soon playing for the U19 Juvenil A side under the guidance of Alvaro Arbeloa.
However, complications following an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained during a UEFA Youth League match against Celtic in September 2022 has led to the painful decision to bring an early end to his career.
?? 19 year old Marc Cucalón announced that he is retiring from football, because of the injuries he sustained.Wish Marc all the best for the future. pic.twitter.com/QLx4VMIhQs
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 12, 2024
In 2023, Cucalon had signed a contract with global sportswear brand adidas, further cementing his status as a rising star. Yet, in an emotional social media post, the youngster revealed the heartbreaking news.
"I arrived at Real Madrid in the summer of 2016 as a kid with a backpack full of dreams, and I was very, very happy," he wrote on Instagram.
"And the truth is that my life changed completely on 6 September 2022, when I was seriously injured. After several complications, that injury has forced me to make the tough decision to say goodbye to football, at least in the way I had always dreamed of.
"For these past two years, I have struggled physically and mentally with all my might and I have tried everything in my power to enjoy this sport again, but it has not been possible to recover from it.
"Don't get me wrong: this is not a sad goodbye at all. After all, I think I have been truly privileged to have been part of the best club in the world and to have lived a dream. I've learned and matured as a person and as a player.
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"I carry with me for the rest of my life the values that have been instilled in me and, of course, football has taught me in every triumph and in every defeat: you always have to overcome and keep fighting to overcome obstacles. Those lessons will be part of my life forever."
