Nutmeg Maestro With an Afro : Viera Marcelo

The 2006-2007 season saw the lights go out on the Real Madrid career of superstar Roberto Carlos. He left the club in the summer of 2007 after 11 campaigns. A few months earlier the Whites prepared for his departure by bringing in another Brazilian, a talented 18-year-old by the name of Marcelo.

Nine years later and Marcelo has proved himself to be a worthy successor to Carlos. He rules Real Madrid's left flank just like his legendary compatriot used to. Together they have starred in two decades of Brazilian reign at left-back and built a samba super highway along that flank.

And the duo do not just share their nationality: their careers at Real Madrid also bear a number of similarities. They even arrived under the same manager, ten years apart: Fabio Capello.

They have won almost the same trophies, they have played almost the same number of seasons, they have both been captains and they are the foreigners to have worn the white of Real Madrid on most occasions. They are also two of the best-value signings in the history of the club. Carlos cost 3.6 million euros and Marcelo 6m.

The attacking football they play also unites them. Carlos was a handful, frighteningly quick and boasting a cannon of a left foot that notched up 67 goals - an outrageous statistic for a defender. Marcelo is of a similar vein. Less explosive, but possessing pace and skill in abundance which make him a key component in attack. His 25 goals are not to be sniffed at, either.

Back in training , thanks god

anyone noticed Marcelo has been using his right leg lately?

shadexticos wrote:anyone noticed Marcelo has been using his right leg lately?

he's always had a good right leg shot on him.

Captain

Such a likeable player, his celebrations were awesome

Nearly 2 hours of football and his legs had it in them to do that. Unreal.

Totally unbelevible. I just don't understand how he is not a full time attacker with that skill. I mean if bale turned. He is way more skilful.

Our best player this season.

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/marcelo-real-madrid-first-we-attack/

wonderful article

i liked that article. i remember many years ago he had an interview i think on realmadrid.com and he spoke bout how his grandpa played a huge part in his career, but he didn't discuss it in depth at the time

I read it a couple days ago. Crazy how he almost quit football but his grandpa pushed him on.

Anyone else upset at Marcelo pulling a hamstring in the first month of the season? Nothing screams lack of preparation like a soft tissue injury after a few games, shame Theo hurt his shoulder too

Mr Nick09 wrote:Anyone else upset at Marcelo pulling a hamstring in the first month of the season? Nothing screams lack of preparation like a soft tissue injury after a few games, shame Theo hurt his shoulder too

not surprising. we knew all this going in, marcelo's not the fittest fiddle out there, he too is injury prone and has had injury issues throughout his time with us, even when he wasn't starting. its just that we've had bale and coentrao who have made other injury prone players look like cristiano. not a medical staff issue, never has been a medical issue

Out for a month.

Nacho at LB, which is ok. But we really need our strikers... to play like strikers lol. We literally cannot carry dead weight around.

Marcelo look like his time is coming to an end.

Luckily the club bought a left back in the summer.

He was terrible today.

Like i said before. He is done.

His comments after the barca defeat were so arrogant. You were poor and have been this season, accept it.

Stop overreacting, he had a good attacking game. Defensively he has never been the best for us, but defensively that day he was a joke. Amateurs were making a mockery of his craft tbh. Couple chances (benzemas header for example) should have went in

Best fullback of all times

MotM for me

guest7 wrote:MotM for me

Modric and Varane

Nah, it has to be Marcelo, he was fantastic. Modric and Varane were decent but Marcelo was head and shoulders above everyone today for me. All while playing through injury.

Marcelo was the MvP for me for that match which is standard stuff. Marcelo always shows up during these months. It's the Sept - January is where I am absolutely upset with him.

On a serious side note though, I really think Madrid fans are definitely going over board with the praises, calling him our best LB ever. Do people really forget how great Roberto Carlos was? I could understand Camacho, that was in Tito time but Carlos was a superior full back period.

If the word "masterpiece" was ever appropriate, it would fit like a glove to describe Marcelo's display against PSG.

I maintain that defensively speaking, he's one of the worst LBs to ever wear the white of Madrid. But offensively, he has no equal. An absolute beast of a LB.

While we all agree that he was fantastic against PSG, I think it's become quite evident since last season that he doesn't have the same level of stamina anymore. He played with a lot of energy and initiative against PSG. Those performances are clearly becoming less common in his case. The same can be said about Modric. "Past it" is not the right word to describe them, but it's only natural that they're becoming less consistent as they grow older.

The Demon of Carthage wrote:
I maintain that defensively speaking, he's one of the worst LBs to ever wear the white of Madrid..

no he's not. i'm one of his biggest critics from a defensive standpoint, but its not like we've had a history glittered with amazing left backs. carlos and camacho are the top, we've had a lot of terrible LBs, some as bad or worse than marcelo defensively; heinze drenthe raul bravo come to mind. i never liked heinze in particular, his hard-worker act i think blinded many to just how poor he was at LB for us, both on offense and defense. that guy was a nightmmare