(Football news) Real Madrid captain Marcelo's contract expires at the end of the season. According to several reports both the player and the club do not have any intentions of staying which will mean that this will be Marcelo's 15th and last season at Real Madrid.
Marcelo was just 19 years old when he earned a dream move to Real Madrid from his home club Fluminense. He was signed in January 2007 and played as a deputy to his idol Roberto Carlos. Marcelo was already hailed as Carlos' successor for Real Madrid and Brazil. He became first choice in the 2007/08 season, when Carlos left and was later converted to a winger before reverting to left back.
Marcelo's pace, dribbling and pinpoint crosses are the reasons he is widely regarded as the best fullback in the modern game of football. Over the years Marcelo has become a Real Madrid legend and after the departure of Sergio Ramos he also serves as the captain of the club. The Brazilian has been named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI in 2012 and then for 5 seasons in a row from 2015 to 2019. He was also named in the France Football team of the decade (2010–2019).
All these accolades do not show how much of a rollercoaster ride Marcelo's Real Madrid career has been. He has often found himself as a second choice left back behind Gabriel Heinze, Fabio Coentrao and most recently Ferland Mendy. Despite this Marcelo has never put in a transfer request or asked for a pay rise. Marcelo has been described by many of his teammates as a leader and someone who always keeps the team's morale high.
In the last few years Marcelo has been criticised for his performances and mainly his lack of defensive discipline. His performances since 2019 haven't been the best but he still leaves a very rare legacy at Real Madrid. Until recently Los Blancos weren't the kind of club that signed young and raw players to develop them until Marcelo and Sergio Ramos came into the picture.
For a non Spanish/ European to come to a club of Real Madrid's stature as a teenager and eventually become the club captain, Marcelo has become an icon and someone who's career young kids will look to replicate at Real Madrid. Now at the age of 33 Marcelo is set to become a free agent. Reports suggest that the Brazilian is now set to return to his boyhood club Fluminense after 15 years.
