Cucurella names Real Madrid player who has impressed him most

Marc Cucurella says Real Madrid are currently “the best team in Europe” after a strong run of results, while identifying Arda Guler as the player who has surprised him most at the club.

Speaking to the El Partidazo programme on COPE, the Real Madrid player said the team had developed a more serious and consistent image in recent matches.

“We are currently the best team in Europe after putting together a very good run of results, and the team now looks very serious,” Cucurella said.

Asked whether Real Madrid were better than Paris Saint-Germain, he added: “I do not watch their matches very often.”

Cucurella was then asked to choose the best player in Real Madrid’s squad. He acknowledged the claims of Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Thibaut Courtois, but instead selected Guler.

“I could choose Mbappe, Bellingham or Courtois, but I will mention a player I like a lot who does not receive enough attention: Arda Guler,” he said.

“He plays a lot and has great quality. When he is on the pitch, the team plays better and our passing becomes more connected. He is the player who has surprised me the most.”

The discussion then turned to the difference between Diomande and Vinicius Junior, and the extent to which each player helps Cucurella during matches.

“I do not think Diomande helps me more than Vinicius, but what Diomande does is more noticeable,” Cucurella said.

“Diomande makes one run in behind and you see him everywhere. Vinicius makes three runs, then there is one where he does not run, and that is the one everyone notices.”

Cucurella said Vinicius would face less criticism if he were scoring regularly, while stressing the importance of the Brazilian returning to his best form.

“If Vini scored three goals in every match, nobody would criticise him,” he said. “The most important thing for us is for him to get back to his best, because when he is playing at the top of his game, we have a great team.”

He also defended Vinicius’ recent performances, pointing to the high level he has maintained over a sustained period.

“Vinicius has produced exceptional performances for five years, so it is normal for him to go through a dip at the moment,” Cucurella said.

“I can see that he has the desire and makes the effort in training. That is the important thing.”

Real Madrid are listed to face Celta Vigo in La Liga on 21 November 2026.