In a recent tweet, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano offered an update on the future of Real Madrid left-back Marcelo this summer. Romano revealed that he expects the Brazilian defender to stay with Los Blancos beyond this summer.
AS Roma are set to sign Rui Patricio, agreement now close after official bid to Wolves around €10m + €3m add ons. 🐺
There’s nothing with Marcelo as Spinazzola replacement – fake news, he’s staying at Real Madrid.
Ramy Bensebaini is among the targets, as per @DiMarzio.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 5, 2021
Marcelo’s Frustrating Campaign In Spanish Football
Marcelo endured a difficult season at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium as he struggled to earn regular playing time for the Madrid giants. He also missed a few matches due to injury which did not help his cause at the Spanish capital. The Brazilian sensation made 19 appearances for Los Blancos in the previous campaign, picking up four assists in the process across multiple competitions.
The 33-year-old struggled to be consistent but deserves a pat on the back for averaging 1.7 tackles, 0.6 interceptions, 0.5 clearances, 0.7 shots, 1.1 key passes and 0.7 dribbles per game in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League last season. He took care of the ball well when distributing the ball from the left flank after completing 83% of his attempted passes in both those competitions (stats via whoscored).
Marcelo is under contract at Madrid until the summer of 2022, so Carlo Ancelotti should consider cashing in on him this summer or else risk losing the Brazilian as a free agent next year. If Los Blancos decide to retain his services, the Rio de Janeiro-born talent could still help them challenge for some major trophies in the upcoming campaign.
Should Los Blancos Keep Marcelo Beyond This Summer?
When Marcelo is fit and firing on all cylinders, he can be a decent option at left-back. He is a vastly experienced defender who is always willing to get stuck in with a few tackles to disrupt the opposition’s flow in the game. The Brazilian veteran has won plenty of trophies during his long and successful career with Real Madrid. Hence, it is only fair to him if Ancelotti retains his services for another season so that the player gets a chance to leave on his own terms.
Marcelo is good enough to serve as an influential presence in Ancelotti’s match-day squad. Plus, he can even chip in by netting the odd goal or setting up some decent chances for his teammates in the attacking end of the field.
With all things considered, Ancelotti should keep Marcelo for now as he could play an important role in the Italian tactician’s squad until next summer. He could even help Los Blancos reclaim the La Liga title if he can re-establish himself as one of the top performers at the Bernabeu next season.
