Prime Video hit Married to The Game returns for its second offering next week, delving into the behind-the-scenes lives of the wives and girlfriends of some of the world’s biggest football stars.
The fly-on-the-wall series explores the joys and dramas that come with being married to or in a relationship with the sporting icons, and among those sharing insight into her experience in series two is Marc Cucurella’s girlfriend, Claudia Rodriguez.
Spain and Chelsea star Cucurella, 26, has been in a relationship with 25-year-old Rodriguez since 2018.
They share three children: Mateo, Rio, and Bella. Their first-born Mateo, four, was recently diagnosed with autism, which is explored in the upcoming series.
Speaking to GB News and other press, Rodriguez opened up on the struggle she and her partner faced as they adjusted to the diagnosis.
“It was a bit difficult to understand what was happening to Mateo,” she admitted when asked about her son’s autism.
“You need a lot of time, you have to visit a lot of doctors, and you have to find a problem to find a solution.
“And after that, you have to be a team with your partner. It’s so difficult for the couple, it’s very difficult.
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“So you just have two options, be a team or fight all the day, because it’s very, very difficult.
“So I think Marc and I, we are more together. You know, working together on everything to have the best for our three kids.”
The programme explores details of how the couple noticed and adjusted to their son’s autism, with Rodriguez stating: “We saw something different about Mateo when he was small, about 13 months old, but it was a long process to get the diagnosis.
“When he was smaller, it was easier but now he’s growing up, it’s more difficult,” she continued.
“When we moved to Chelsea, we started him at school and he was very upset, and we didn’t know the solution. You have to find it yourself, and you feel very bad because you are not prepared for it.
“‘You prepared to be a mum, but not to be a mum of an autistic kid, so you feel bad.
“It was very, very difficult to see him like that, so upset, and we just tried to find the best solution.”
The series two debut also sees Rodriguez’s dedication to supporting her partner’s career, with cameras following her and the couple’s young children during last year’s Euros as she travelled back and forth to cheer on Cucurella.
Rodriguez also touched on how she and her football star partner attempt to keep their children in the real world despite the luxuries they enjoy.
“I think my kids are too small now [to understand],” she commented when asked how she navigates the complex lifestyle.
“But that’s the life they have. You just have to try to explain to them, how is not the world, just their lives and we just do our best.”
The series returns to Amazon Prime Video on April 8.
