Marc Cucurella's partner Claudia Rodriguez has shared an emotional message after the defender's departure from Chelsea was confirmed, admitting she is struggling to say goodbye to the life their family built in London.
The Spain international's move to Real Madrid was officially announced on Monday, bringing an end to his four-year spell at Stamford Bridge and marking a return to his homeland.
The transfer comes after Real Madrid moved swiftly to secure the 27-year-old defender, beating competition from elsewhere in Spain to complete the deal.
For Rodriguez, however, the news has been accompanied by mixed emotions as the family prepare to leave England after five years spent living in the country.
Taking to social media following confirmation of the move, she opened up on the challenge of leaving behind friends, memories and a city that had become home.
"I don't know how to say goodbye to my home," Rodriguez wrote.
In a lengthy post, she reflected on the family's journey since arriving in England and the experiences they shared during Cucurella's time at Brighton and Chelsea.
"Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this experience," she said.
Marc Cucurella's partner Claudia Rodriguez has shared an emotional message after the defender's departure from Chelsea was confirmed, admitting she is struggling to say goodbye to the life their family built in London
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Marc Cucurella has been with Claudia Rodriguez since 2018
|GETTY
"I feel so lucky for everything we've shared these past years.
"I arrived with two babies and I'm leaving with two little boys and a British girl."
Rodriguez also spoke about the difficulty of explaining the move to the couple's children.
"I don't know how I'm going to explain to them that Chelsea is no longer part of our lives," she added.
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The message quickly attracted attention from Chelsea supporters, many of whom thanked the family for their connection with the club throughout Cucurella's time in west London.
Rodriguez became a familiar face at Stamford Bridge and developed strong friendships within the wider Chelsea community during the defender's spell at the club.
Despite the sadness surrounding the move, she made it clear there is also excitement about the next chapter.
Clarifying that her farewell message reflected her own feelings, Rodriguez later added: "I'm exploding with pride and happiness.
"Let the adventure begin."
Cucurella leaves Chelsea after playing a key role in the club's recent successes and establishing himself as one of the Premier League's most recognisable full-backs.
The defender initially arrived from Brighton in 2022 and went on to become a regular fixture in Chelsea's starting line-up.
His departure had not appeared imminent in recent days.
Marc Cucurella established himself as a key player for Chelsea during his time at Stamford Bridge
|REUTERS
While away with Spain, Cucurella had publicly insisted he was focused on international duty and did not want transfer speculation to become a distraction.
He also revealed he had spoken positively with new Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso and suggested he remained confident about the future.
However, events moved quickly behind the scenes and an agreement was subsequently reached.
The deal is believed to be worth an initial €55million, with additional performance-related payments potentially increasing the overall value.
Chelsea paid tribute to Cucurella following confirmation of the transfer, thanking him for his contribution to the club and wishing him well for the future.
The defender now returns to Spain with three years remaining on his Chelsea contract, while Rodriguez and their children prepare for a major new chapter away from the city they had come to call home.