Mark Cucalon, Arbeloa’s gem, retires at 19 due to cursed bacteria | Relief
796 days after the injury in Glasgow, in the Youth League match between Celtic and Real Madrid, Marc Cucalon (19) was forced to end his promising football career prematurely. The Aragonese midfielder suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament that unfortunate Scottish morning and during the subsequent operation he was attacked by bacteria that penetrated the cartilage of the joint and caused an infection that was as feared as it was rare. Still struggling to exercise, negative prognoses and medical advice supported his decision to hang up his boots and push for rehabilitation.
Traveling over the past two years has been a nightmare for Cucalon. nicknamed Xabi Alonso from La Fábrica and one of the players Arbeloa trusted completely to reach the elite. In fact, the man from Salamanca chose him as captain of his Juvenil A for the (unsuccessful) 2022-23 season and was always aware of his recovery and the steps he should follow. Marc has never been just another player in Valdebebas: since he joined Infantil B in 2016 from Royal Zaragozathe midfielder has always been recognized as one of the “blackbirds”, who is most valued by the quarry management for his good ball control, leadership qualities and tactical intelligence, qualities that have seen him compared to the current Bayer Leverkusen coach.
In this way, the player from Alfajarin managed to rise step by step in the lower categories… until he faced the 22-23 campaign as the leader of the Juvenil A team of Nico Paz, Gonzalo or Cesar Palacios. Arbeloa already knew him from his time at Cadet and gave him the keys and bracelet of the historic team, which finished the season with a top three and broke many records. But Mark couldn’t enjoy it and his illness prevented him from returning to the turf with his teammates.
The injury (ruptured cruciate ligament in the right knee) was caused by a hard tackle from a Celtic player. This misfortune was to keep him away from the playing fields for a period of six to nine months. but everything became more complicated during the operation due to a bacteria he picked up in the operating room and which undermined the functionality of his joint. With the problem not abating quickly enough to consider returning to the professional team, Cucalon, on the advice of his family and friends, decided to put football aside. He is now working on his recovery with a personal fitness trainer.
Real Madrid support
In addition, as Relevo learned, Throughout the process, the club acted like a movie with its crown jewel and will continue to provide financial assistance. continue knee recovery. The being, from management to teammates to quarry employees, had been following his development with extreme interest and making sure that this event would have as little impact on his emotional state as possible.
Toni Kroos had already given him the shirt on the way back from Glasgow.when he found out what had happened, and members of Juvenil A showed affection several times during the season in which he was injured. Among them, the detail that stood out was Manuel Angel (who inherited the captaincy), allowing him and the also injured Alex Sibache to win the Copa del Rey, won in Leon in March. In a documentary for club television Cucalon told what happened and he thanked his mentor Arbeloa for his support: “It was a very tough fight. I noticed a “click” and already thought that it might be something serious. When I was at my worst, I was admitted to the hospital and a trainer came to me and gave me the strength I needed to keep going. “I will be grateful to him all my life.”
This skill continued last season during his re-adaptation to Real Madrid City and he began to see some green shoots: he began to bend his knees and expand his range of exercises. As usually happens with long-term injuries, Real Madrid stripped him of his license (he should have been registered under C) and Cucalon received a federation card for 23–24 years with Las Rosas B, a team that plays in the Preferenta. It was an administrative decision… and nothing more. Now the midfielder says goodbye, without ruling out that his future, whether on the bench or in another branch, is back in football. Madrid will remain by his side.