Real Madrid legend willing to make a necessary sacrifice to prolong his stay
On Friday night, Real Madrid fans bid farewell to two club legends, as Isco and Marcelo both played in the second half and impressed in what could very well be their final match as Madridistas. Both players will be out of contract this summer. So will another club legend, Gareth Bale, but he was unavailable against Real Betis and could not get a formal farewell.
However, in the case of one of these three players – the most beloved of them, may I add – there is a chance of a longer stay in the Spanish capital.
According to a report from Manu de Juan of AS, Marcelo would like to stay with Real Madrid for one more season. As is customary, Madrid only offer one-year extensions to players of a certain age, and Marcelo would like to join the likes of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Nacho Fernandez, and Karim Benzema as year-to-year players.
Marcelo wants to stay at Real Madrid and is willing to earn less money
Although Madridistas are mostly against Marcelo staying, the left back is reportedly willing to take a significant paycut in order to stay one more year.
Marcelo was woeful in 2020/21, perhaps costing Real Madrid the league at the end of the season with his poor performances during Ferland Mendy’s injury. But this season, the Brazilian legend has been solid, including in some important matches for the Merengues.
He would 100 percent have to take a paycut in order for Real Madrid to even think about keeping him, but, even then, it may be best for Real to move on. Marcelo has usefulness with his technical quality and playmaking, and he is great for the locker room.
But Real are signing Antonio Rudiger, giving David Alaba a chance to move to left back at times. Mendy is finishing the 2021/22 season strong. And then there are the young options Miguel Gutierrez and Fran Garcia – both of them should be among the best left backs in LaLiga next season, regardless of where they play. Miguel is already on the books, and Fran could be purchased for five million euros. Even accounting for Marcelo’s potential paycut, both players should have cheaper wages than Marcelo.
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It is hard to say goodbye, and it is lovely that Marcelo wants to stay in Madrid. But it remains highly unlikely. This seems like a perfect farewell, based on how the 2021/22 season has gone for both the club and the player.