After Cucurella joined Real Madrid, the Spanish star and his family's experience with their son's autism also drew attention.

Cucurella's partner, Claudia Rodríguez, has been with him since adolescence. They have three children: Mateo, Rio, and Bella. Mateo has autism. This family's story has long transcended football, offering the public a glimpse into the challenges, fears, and rewards faced by families with autism.

Claudia Rodríguez stated on the podcast "Madretea" that the earliest signs appeared when Mateo was about 13 months old and started nursery school. The child lacked eye contact, didn't respond when called by name, and seemed uninterested in his surroundings, which raised her suspicions. "Not knowing what would happen next, or what would become of my son, was the hardest thing for me to bear," she said, a sentiment that encapsulates the anxiety and uncertainty many families living with autism spectrum disorder experience.

Although the pediatrician told them these differences might be part of normal development, Claudia decided to continue investigating. Her intuition proved crucial: "Before you get the diagnosis, you're already diagnosing your child yourself," she explained in multiple interviews.

Concerns about the future permeated her narrative. Claudia admitted that every day she faces questions with no immediate answers: "I don't know how independent he will be in the future, how much he will need me, or if he will ever speak. I can't face these questions."

Despite their financial means making treatment and travel easier, she emphasized that money cannot eliminate daily worries or accelerate her son's development. "My son doesn't speak, my son is autistic," she reminded, noting that financial stability helps, but it doesn't solve emotional stress or erase the uncertainties that come with a diagnosis.

This diagnosis also tested the couple's relationship. Claudia acknowledged that such circumstances can strain any partnership: "We had a very difficult time. Such things can separate two people, or bring them closer together. It's complicated, but we became more united, always putting Mateo's interests first."

Now, as Cucurella embarks on a new phase at Madrid, he remains involved in all aspects of daily life at home and accompanies Mateo to therapy. For them, Mateo always comes first. Cucurella acknowledged that some signs were initially overlooked, and the entire process has been both difficult and enlightening.

Claudia and Marco became parents at a very young age, 20 and 21 respectively. Parenthood brought learning, sacrifice, and accelerated maturity. She said: "You face these things at a very young age, and it's not what you expected, because it's difficult and there are many practical issues. I might make many mistakes, but I am at peace because every decision I make is for his good."

The couple has navigated moving, living abroad, and raising three children while learning to cope with Mateo's autism and building a support network far from their extended families.

Through her experiences, Claudia Rodríguez has become a voice bringing visibility to the reality of thousands of autistic families in Spain.

Her story also highlights the importance of early intervention, the need for greater public resources, and the value of trusting parental intuition. Her experience reminds people that every child has their own pace, strengths, and unique way of engaging with the world.

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