Marc Cucurella is not spending Ballon d’Or season being coy about his pick.
Asked at Spain’s Nations League media briefing in Oviedo this week who he would vote for, the Real Madrid defender needed one sentence.
“If I had to vote, I would vote for myself,” Cucurella told reporters.
He then softened the quip. “Fortunately, it is true that two of the candidates are teammates of mine. May the one who deserves it win. Whoever it is, I am going to be happy and I leave that to those who vote.”
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Four Real Madrid names on the list
The 70th edition of the award will be handed out at the London Palladium on Monday, 26 October, and Real Madrid are travelling with four names on the 30-man list: Cucurella, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham. Spain colleagues Lamine Yamal of Barcelona and Pedri are also among the nominees.
Cucurella arrived off the back of a strong summer with Spain, with the move to the capital coming straight after. Real Madrid confirmed the transfer from Chelsea on 15 June, with Sky Sports reporting a fee of £47.5m plus £4.3m in add-ons on a deal running to 2032.
‘Less than 10 games’ and still bedding in
The 28-year-old signed under Jose Mourinho, who returned as Real Madrid head coach that same summer. Cucurella conceded the adjustment is still ongoing.
“Madrid is a new club for me and we have had almost no pre-season,” he said. “I think I have played less than 10 games.”
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Mbappe, by contrast, is openly chasing a first Ballon d’Or. “I have a feeling it’s a good year for that,” the France captain said in September, having added a second consecutive World Cup Golden Boot in July.
El Clasico 24 hours before London
Barcelona host Real Madrid at Camp Nou on Sunday 25 October, kick-off 9pm local time. Yamal lines up on one side; the four Real Madrid nominees are expected on the other. The Palladium gala follows roughly 24 hours later.
Before any of that, Spain play the Czech Republic in Oviedo on Saturday 3 October, Cucurella’s final match of this international break.
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