Marc Cucurella’s girlfriend Claudia Rodriguez opens up on Chelsea star’s ‘tough’ begin in west London – and divulges £62K housebreaking left her ‘scared to sleep alone’ in her own residence

Marc Cucurella‘s partner has opened up on the Chelsea star’s ‘difficult’ move to west London nearly three years on from his £60million transfer. 

The defender has burnished his Premier League reputation at Brighton and was one of the marquee signings of the new ownership group fronted by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. 

But Cucurella found it hard to adjust to his new side, which itself was undergoing wholesale transformation as Thomas Tuchel was traded for another Seagulls recruit – Graham Potter. 

The Spain international struggled for consistency on the pitch, and later revealed that a number of circumstances away from the game also contributed to his dip in form, including the burglary of his family home. 

However, as Cucurella settled at Stamford Bridge, the defender became an increasingly vital presence in the set-ups of head coaches Mauricio Pochettino and Enzo Maresca. 

Cucurella also starred for Spain at last summer’s European Championship, helping La Roja take him the trophy for the fourth time in the nation’s history. 

Claudia Rodriguez opened up on the challenges her family faced when her partner Marc Cucurella moved to Chelsea

The family are set to star in the latest season of Amazon Prime’s Married To The Game

Cucurella had difficulty finding form in west London during his debut season in Chelsea blue

But Rodriguez was candid about the challenges her family has had to overcome as part of Cucurella’s rocky start. 

‘It was difficult,’ Rodriguez exclusively told Mail Sport at a screening of the first episode of Amazon’s Married To The Game Season 2. ‘The first year was very difficult because we didn’t have the best year. 

‘So was very difficult for him and for me, also family, and now just the best part is we managed it, and I’m very proud. 

‘We need, sometimes chapters like that, you know, so today I’m proud of all of it.’

Rodriguez is one of five partners of Premier League stars set to feature in the second season of the documentary series, which aims to give viewers insight into the reality of life under football’s microscope. 

Cucurella and Rodriguez allowed cameras to follow their daily lives, with the impact of their son Mateo’s autism on the family one of the emotional flashpoints of the programme. 

The reality series also sees Rodriguez open up on the impact of a burglary which the family suffered shortly after the move to the west London club.   

Premier League stars have seen an uptick in burglaries in recent years, with Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish among those targeted by criminals. 

But the player has since flourished and become a crucial member of Enzo Maresca’s side

Rodriguez was also candid about the impact of a burglary on her family and their safety

Cucurella and his family lost £62,000-worth of property in the break-in, including Louis Vuitton bags, but more importantly, the crime robbed the family of peace of mind. 

Rodriguez was keen to stress that security remains an important priority for her family, opening up on the impact the break-in had on her psyche.    

‘The security is one of things I’m more worried about,’ Rodriguez admitted. ‘It’s very hard when you are not comfortable at your home. 

‘I’m scared to sleep alone with my kids, for example. So for today, the most important thing for me, I think, is the security of me and my family.’

Married To The Game is available exclusively on Prime Video.