Legendary Fullback Marcelo, 36, and his parent club Fluminense terminated the player’s contract over the weekend.
Marcelo36, was one of the absolute best wing players in the world at the peak of his career. The talented left tackle won La Liga six times and the Champions League five times in Real Madrid.
With a total of 25 trophies, he is one of the most successful in Real’s history. For example, the well-known magazine France Football selected him in its team of the decade (2010–19).
After 16 Madrid seasons, he moved to Greece to Olympiakos in 2022 and from there the following year to Fluminense, i.e. the brass club where his career began.
At the weekend, Marcelo got a shoe. Before that, Saturday’s Gremio match saw a dispute between Marcelo and the head coach Mano Menezes between.
– I have never seen this in elite level football. Menezes is ready to put Marcelo on the field and gives him tactical instructions, but Marcelo seems to say “no” to them. Menezes is furious and shoves him back to the bench and doesn’t put him on the pitch, reports including the editor Tancredi Palmeri.
“I was going to replace Marcelo on the field, but I heard something I didn’t like, so I changed my mind,” Menezes said.
According to CNN the reason for the dismissals was also the bad distance between Marcelo and the rest of the team and the player’s weaker than expected performances.
As is often the case in these situations, according to Fluminense, the cooperation was decided by mutual agreement of both parties.
– The institutional and emotional ties between Fluminense and Marcelo will remain. The athlete’s name was recently immortalized in the Xerém training center, Fluminense wrote.
After returning to Fluminense, Marcelo managed to win the Copa Lipertadores, which in South America is equivalent to the European Champions League.
After his dismissal, Marcelo published a text thanking the club for a wonderful time. He emphasized that he returned to Fluminense because of the emotional bond he experienced. He also celebrates the club’s first Copa Lipertadores victory.
In addition, Marcelo thanks his wife and children for all their support and sacrifices.
– I am proud of my achievements and thank everyone who made the moments unique. I also thank the Tricolor fans for their support. I will always carry Fluminense in my heart.
– Like the sun, the truth always emerges, Marcelo enigmatically concluded.
The Brazilian Serie A, which ends on December 8, is led by Botafogo with 64 points from 31 matches. Palmeiras has 61 points and Fortaleza 60. Fluminense is only 13th.