October 21, 2020, Madrid, Spain: Marcelo of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and FC Shakhtar Donetsk at at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on October 21, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. Madrid Spain - ZUMAd159 20201021_zia_d159_173 Copyright: xIndirax
According to AS (h/t Daily Mail), Marcelo has been offered a way out of Real Madrid with AS Monaco being interested. The French club are willing to offer him a three-year deal but he will have to take a pay cut to join them.
The veteran Brazilian has somewhat been pushed to the fringes and has struggled badly over the past year or so.
Very few full-backs can claim to say that they are the best in their position. One of them is Marcelo. The Brazilian came to Real Madrid after just one season of senior football in Brazil. Not much was known as to what he would bring to a star-studded Galacticos side of Real.
Yet as time went on, Marcelo showed glimpses of his potential. He became the hallmark of modern-day full-backs who drive up the flank and contribute to the team’s attack, putting in crosses or simply going on the overlap to allow the winger to cut in.
He has experienced a tremendous amount of success in his 14-year stay at the club – 5 La Liga titles, 4 Champions League trophies, 3 UEFA Super Cups, 4 FIFA Club World Cups and a host of domestic cups. One of the best things about Real Madrid was he and Cristiano Ronaldo combining on the left flank. It was a staple to see Ronaldo at the end of a Marcelo cross in each game.
However, one can’t help but see the painful decline in Marcelo’s performances of late. Gone are the days when he used to bomb down the left flank and put in a dangerous cross for the striker to finish. The veteran Brazilian looks to be on his last legs at the club and has not been helped by the team struggling as a whole.
While he was never the finest defender, his inadequacies were masked by his outstanding attacking prowess. First, it was Sergio Reguilon who usurped his place. However, he was thrown a lease of life with Zinedine Zidane rejoining the club.
Then came Ferland Mendy. Even then Marcelo was first-choice. But as time went on, Marcelo’s defensive deficiencies came to the fore and negatively affected Real. They were losing games in which he was starting and clean sheets became a rare commodity.
Now as Ferland Mendy lines up week in week out, the writing looks to be on the wall for Marcelo. His time at the club is nearing an end. He has contributed to the side’s dominance during those years and he can be proud of his performances.
Nonetheless, it looks best for all parties that Marcelo accepts Monaco’s offer of a long-term deal. Even if it is on a wage cut, not a lot of teams would offer a 32-year-old a three-year deal. Real Madrid need to look for life after Marcelo and vice versa.