Marcelo is replacing Sergio Ramos as the captain of Real Madrid in what could be a blow to Everton and Leeds United’s hopes of luring the Brazilian to the Premier League, as reported by Marca.
In truth, Real’s decision to hand the armband to one of the most successful footballers of the 21st century seems an odd one.
Marcelo may be a living legend at the Santiago Bernabeu, a four-time Champions League winner and an inspiration to many talented up-and-comers rising through the ranks at La Fabrica.
But, at the age of 33, the long-serving left-back is no longer the irrepressible, buccaneering force of old.
Marcelo lacks the pace to make up for his questionable positional sense these days and, tellingly, started just 12 La Liga matches last season, falling behind the human bullet train that is Ferland Mendy in the Real Madrid pecking order.
Furthermore, AS suggested Marcelo was unlikely to play a major role under the returning Carlo Ancelotti either.
Does armband end hopes of Marcelo at Leeds United or Everton?
According to The Mirror, Everton were eyeing a deal that would see Marcelo reunite with James Rodriguez at Goodison Park.
Leeds are apparently interested too, with arguably the greatest full-back of the past ten years or so one of many left-sided defenders – if you can call Marcelo a ‘defender’ – on Marcelo Bielsa’s radar.
But with Ramos handing the armband to a man he has shared a dressing room with since the late 2000s, it’s tempting to wonder what that means for Marcelo’s immediate future.
It’s hard to imagine Real – or Ancelotti for that matter – would want to lose two of their most experienced and influential players in the same summer.
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