Real Madrid legend Marcelo knows he has no chance of playing for the La Liga giants next season amid interest from Leeds United and Everton, as reported by AS.
All good things must come to an end and that tired old cliche certainly applies when talking about Marcelo’s sparkling, silver-coated Los Blancos career.
At 33, the very definition of ‘Jogo Bonito’ is no longer the brilliant, ball-juggling force of old. Marcelo started just 12 times as Madrid lost their La Liga crown to city rivals Atletico last season.
The 2019 arrival of the turbo-charged Ferland Mendy brought the curtain down on Marcelo’s decade-long spell as one of the first names on the Santiago Bernabeu team sheet.
And, with the “phenomenon” Miguel Gutierrez bursting on to the scene during the final few weeks of the Zinedine Zidane era, there’s a chance one of the most successful footballers of the modern era won’t even be guaranteed a place on the bench in 2021/22.
Can Everton or Leeds bag Real Madrid legend Marcelo?
According to AS, Marcelo is under no illusions either.
He knows if he stays in the Spanish capital, there’s little chance he will play a key part in new manager Carlo Ancelotti’s plans.
Whether that means a man with 22 trophies on his CV is destined to tick out the clock in the Premier League, however, remains to be seen.
The Mirror raised plenty of eyebrows on Sunday when it reported Marcelo was being considered by both Everton and Leeds United.
Then again, you just have to look at the autumnal resurgence of another Brazilian full-back – the evergreen Dani Alves – to be reminded age is but a number.
Marcelo is available for just £5 million and the chance to sign arguably the most technically gifted full-back of the 21st century may be too good to turn down.
AS adds the four-time Champions League winner has just one year remaining on his contract.
If Real Madrid fail to find a buyer, the cash-strapped Spanish giants will be stuck with a £260,000-a-week millstone hanging around their neck.
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