Real Madrid wing-back Marcelo has been having a tough time this season and with his best-friend and Juventus calling he could be gone this summer.
Brazilian left-back Marcelo revealed that he knew Portuguese star, Cristiano Ronaldo was leaving Real Madrid before many others. Marcelo recounts a conversation he had with the winger before the UCL Final in Kiev against Liverpool.
Football Espana reported Ronaldo informed Marcelo about his decision to leave before the match took place, making it evident as to why CR7 looked so gloomy despite winning his fifth Champions League.
Marcelo revealed in an interview with Esporte Interactivo “we were training for the final and he told me: ‘I’m leaving.'”
The two were close friends and the Portuguese star felt bad not telling his best mate said to him “I realize that I have lied to you about this before, but that is because I had to.”
When asked in the interview Marcelo was asked if he too would be heading to Juventus to join his compatriot. Marcelo responded very frankly stating that “They are a great club, but I have a contract with Real Madrid”
"I have seen mock-ups [of me] with the Juventus jersey, and they are a spectacular team,” he said. “But I am at Real Madrid, I have a contract here. -Marcelo on joining Juventus"
While his loyalty to the club is truly appreciated by the fans and surely the management at Real. The wingback, now 30 years old, is currently in contract with Real Madrid until 2022 after penning a new deal in September of 2017. After his contract extension, he admitted that he had every intention of ending his career in the Capital.
This season though has shown a different Marcelo than the one fans have witnessed in recent years. His drop in form has seen Manager Santiago Solari place Sergio Reguilon in the first team ahead of the full back.
Over the course of the 2018-19 campaign, he has tallied up 1, 957 minutes of game time over 23 matches. In that time he has contributed three goals and four assists.
Solari’s new man, Reguilon has played nearly 900 minutes less at 1, 077 minutes of game time over 14 matches. In that time he has two goals and two assists.
When Solari switched things up in the Clasico and gave Marcelo a second chance, the Brazilian seemed out of depth. From poor passing to horrendous positioning he struggled. Solari went back to youngster Reguilon in the Madrid Derby and that proved to be the right move.
Conscious of his performance, he was first to admit that he has been sub-par: “I am a little below that level at the moment, but my career has been like that, some little dips, and unfortunately this season I had three injuries in two months. I went through a difficult period in my football and within the club.”
There is no doubting Marcelo’s overall contribution to this club but his time here could be coming to an end. That being said, Florentino Perez seems to have his own agenda with players once they reach 30. But that could be counteracted with the notion Marcelo was handed a five-year extension.
Seeing those who have been pushed out of the club before his eyes Marcelo mentioned that “I trust in myself, in my work, but if a day comes when Real Madrid do not want me, I’ll go. I will be sad, but I’ll go. But I am sure I will not be kicked out”