The 34-year-old Brazilian left-back Marcelo reportedly wants to continue his journey for the Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid. While his latest contract will end soon, his near future is uncertain as Los Blancos haven’t given any sign of a new contract for him.
Marcelo is definitely one legend for Real Madrid. Since he joined the club in January 2007, the Brazilian full-back has served tirelessly for the club for more than 15 years. He is one of the key members of the Whites’ recent successes in European football. He is one of the most successful players for the club as he has experienced a record of 24 trophies for the Whites, including six La Liga trophies and four UEFA Champions League titles.
However, in the last three-four seasons, Marcelo’s involvement in the playing XI has gradually decreased, majorly due to fitness issues.
Marcelo’s contract will end in June 2022
While the Brazilian received the last contract extension in the second half of 2017, his contract will finish at the end of upcoming June.
In the ongoing season, Marcelo has only managed to appear in 17 games, including only in seven starting line-ups. Though he was selected as the captain of the senior team after Sergio Ramos departed from the club, the full-back missed many games of this season due to fitness and health-related issues.
While Real Madrid are likely to take a final decision on the Brazilian after the end of the ongoing season, Marcelo wants to stay in this Spanish club, according to the Spanish national daily sports newspaper Marca. The club has four games left in this season, including a UEFA Champions League final against the English Premier League club Liverpool.
The possibilities
Now, the big question is, should Real Madrid set up a new contract for Marcelo? Or they should provide a memorable goodbye to the Brazilian.
Definitely, Real Madrid can find a better choice on the field than the present Marcelo. But after the departure of long-time defenders Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, Marcelo’s huge experience is undeniable for the team. Even his presence on the sideline can massively help the team in any tough situation.
It is very important how Marcelo now sees his future as a player. As he hasn’t represented his Brazil national football team since the end of the FIFA World Cup 2018, there is hardly any expectation to see him on the field in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022.
If the Brazilian feels to move away from his playing career, he can easily fit with the coaching team in Real Madrid. However, his wishes will be a crucial matter in this case too.