One of Real Madrid’s youngest stars, Marc Cucalon, has been forced to retire from professional football at just 19-years-old, after he picked up a serious rare injury which will prevent him playing for Los Blancos. The midfielder announced his decision on social media on Tuesday.

Cucalon was signed Real Zaragoza when he was just 11, and was touted for big things at the Santiago Bernabeu, even drawing comparisons to Real Madrid icon and elite deep-lying playmaker Xabi Alonso. Nicknamed ‘the Xabi Alonso of La Fabrica’, his career was halted by an ACL injury which he suffered during a UEFA Youth League win against Celtic in September 2022.

Although many footballers have suffered ACL injuries and recovered from them to play at the highest level, bacteria entered Cucalon’s body while he was having surgery, which led to an infection. That has subsequently led to it damaging the cartilage in his knee.

Cucalon Announces Retirement
Tributes poured in for the talented youngster

The 19-year-old underwent numerous treatments to try and help him get back on the pitch, but they had little effect on him. With Cucalon still struggling to play the game, he’s been advised to hang up his boots.

Writing on social media, he said: “I arrived at Real Madrid in the summer of 2016 as a kid with a backpack full of dreams and I was very, very happy. And the truth [is] that my life changed completely on 6 September 2022, when I was seriously injured. After several complications, that injury has forced me to make the tough decision to say goodbye to football, at least in the way I had always dreamed of.

“For these past two years I have struggled physically and mentally with all my might and I have tried everything in my power to enjoy this sport again, but it has not been possible to recover from it.

“Don’t get me wrong: this is not a sad farewell at all. After all, I think I have been truly privileged to have been part of the best club in the world and to have lived a dream. I’ve learned and matured as a person and as a player.

“I carry with me for the rest of my life the values that have been instilled in me and, of course, football has taught me in every triumph and in every defeat: you always have to overcome and keep fighting to overcome obstacles. Those lessons will be part of my life forever.”

Alvaro Arbeloa, who coached Cucalon at Real Madrid’s academy, then posted a touching message to the youngster. He said: “You don’t know how many times this game comes to mind. It’s hard for me not to think about the huge player you were going to be (and already were), but you always have to look to the future. You know it better than anyone, you deserve the best, Marc, we will always be there for whatever you need.”

South African Football Association (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan was arrested and charged Wednesday with using the group’s resources for his own purposes in a fraud and theft case amounting to 1.3 million rand ($72,000), police said.

Jordaan, who led South Africa’s successful bid to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, denied the charges in a Johannesburg court.

“The allegations are that between 2014 and 2018, the president of SAFA used the organisation’s resources for his personal gain,” a police statement said.

He was accused of hiring a private security company for his own protection and a public relations company without authorisation from the SAFA board, the statement added.

Jordaan, 73, is reported to have hired the public relations firm after his reputation took a knock when a South African singer and former lawmaker alleged in 2017 that he had sexually assaulted her 25 years previously. He denied the allegations.

He was arrested “following an intensive investigation by the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation based in Johannesburg into allegations of R1.3 million fraud and theft,” police said.

Jordaan has been SAFA president since 2013 and was elected for a third time in 2022.

He was arrested with SAFA chief financial officer Gronie Hluyo and businessman Trevor Neethling, head of the communications company cited in the charges, who also denied the accusations.

The court released the three on bail.

Troy Deeney has ripped into Manchester United star Alejandro Garnacho and told him: ‘I don’t think football is for you.’

Ex-Premier League striker Deeney took aim at Garnacho after he offered a muted celebration following his late goal in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Leicester City.

The Red Devils continued their encouraging run of form in the post-Erik ten Hag era with an emphatic victory over Leicester at Old Trafford.

Garnacho put the icing on the cake with a stunning late goal but surprisingly refused to celebrate, with club captain Bruno Fernandes later offering an insight into his team-mate’s mindset.

‘It was a good day at work, I have to say,’ Fernandes said after the game. ‘We have a lot of players with big qualities, but people can get too excited after one game and too down after another.

‘Garnacho scored a banger but didn’t celebrate like he should because he thinks he has lost faith from some fans.

‘I told him people will always moan but lots of people like you and enjoy what you do.

‘I told him to celebrate, it was something special. He is a special player, we have difference makers.

‘They are the ones who win us games. We want them to score every game but that isn’t going to happen.’

Garnacho’s decision not to celebrate came a few days after he was confronted by a Manchester United fan and content creator outside Old Trafford ahead of the Europa League clash against PAOK.

The supporter told Garnacho to ‘pass better’ and ‘work on his first touch’ as he signed autographs for other fans.

A video of the incident went viral on social media, with Garnacho coldly replying: ‘Why are you not playing, man?’ before walking off.

Giving his take on Garnacho’s muted celebration, Watford legend Deeney told talkSPORT: ‘I said it last night on Match of the Day, and I’ll repeat it. It goes twofold.

‘One, it says what players are like nowadays, where their skin is so thin that one gentleman can say what he wants to say and everyone sulks.

‘And secondly, if he’s getting affected by that, I would say to him, just as an older pro: “I don’t think this football game is for you, big man”.

‘Because you play for the biggest club in world football. If you play poorly, you’re going to get people to get on your case.

‘If you play really well, you’re still going to get people to get on your case. You play for Man United.

‘It’s called jealousy and that’s part of the game. So, disappointed that he didn’t celebrate. It’s an unbelievable goal.

‘But this will be the making or breaking of him, because if he can’t handle that from one gentleman with an iPhone in his face, then I don’t think this is the game for him, unfortunately.’

Fellow talkSPORT pundit and ex-Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan added: ‘What you saw on the weekend was the absolute embodiment of the culture of Man United, and the problem they’ve got in that dressing room where that kid doesn’t celebrate that goal.

‘The reason why he doesn’t celebrate is because he’s had some hurty words said about him, or people have been critical of his performances. That is all you need to know.