‘Joao Pedro saved my life’ – Marc Cucurella opens up on Adama Traore brawl in awkward reunion

Marc Cucurella was given a shock whilst discussing his heated altercation with Adama Traore on TV.

The Chelsea defender joked he would hesitate to say hello to the West Ham United star if they crossed paths in the street.

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Traore then joined the video call moments after that comment to gatecrash Cucurella’s interview.

It came after they had clashed during the closing stages of Saturday’s Premier League meeting at Stamford Bridge.

Tempers flared after Traore had thrown Cucurella to the floor near the touchline.

The full-back’s Chelsea team-mate Joao Pedro rushed in to push the Hammers forward before a 22-man melee broke out.

After the fracas had cooled, West Ham’s Jean-Clair Todibo was sent off for grabbing Pedro around the neck.

Cucurella was asked about the incident during an appearance on Catalan outlet 3Cat.

He explained: “It was towards the end of the match, I put my body in a bit, we wrestled (for the ball).

“There was a moment when I got up and saw that I was very close to him, so I thought, ‘I’m going to stick my head in there to see if I can stir things up’.

“Then he grabbed me, threw me, and a big brawl broke out! These things happen, I have no problem with it.”

Cucurella added: “Joao Pedro saved my life, honestly. If I were Joao, I would have run backwards.”

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After joking that he was unsure if he would say hello to Traore if they crossed paths, host Gerard Moreno brought the forward into the call.

Squashing their feud, Traore said: “It was in the heat of the moment, nothing more. I know he’s a good guy and it’s nothing personal, it all stays on the pitch.”

The January signing continued: “I didn’t mean to do it, it wasn’t my intention. I just wanted to talk to the linesman.”

Cucurella then admitted: “Now I’m calm because there’s a screen between us.”

Similar paths

The pair have previously been international teammates with Spain after being included in the same squad in November 2021.

However, they would not share a pitch together across Nations League matches against Germany and Switzerland.

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Both players are also graduates of Barcelona‘s famed La Masia academy.

Traore returned to the Spanish giants on loan in 2022, seven years after first leaving the club.

Cucurella had departed for Getafe by this point before his subsequent moves to Brighton and Chelsea.

The 27-year-old was previously two age groups below Traore during their time in the youth system.