Signed way back by former president Ramón Calderón, Marcelo has not ever really been really appreciated in the corridors of Santiago Bernabéu. The basic fact is that Real Madrid are once again looking for another leftback to sign and this time around they’ve been heavily linked to Fabio Coentrão. The Portugese international is a personal favourite for both Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo. Perhaps Cristiano is seeking a new playing partner on the left hand side?
Or perhaps Mourinho is not quite pleased with Marcelos performances in the defensive zone. That is something which was pointed out several times last season, the defensive game of Marcelo just isn’t up to scratch. Personally having followed Marcelo’s progress over the last few years, he has always lacked something in his game. Sure, he knows how to attack but this is mostly done with the partnership he has on the left hand side with Ronaldo. Ronaldo lifts Marcelos game, the offensive one.
Yes, many clubs would have wanted to have Marcelo in their ranks but El Madrid are making it more and more clear, with the eventual signing of Coentrão (that is looking more and more likely) that they intend to fulfill a new meaning to that partnership with Ronaldo.
Another basic fact is that Marcelo is not even playing for the national team, and that many pundits think that Marcelo is a bit naive in his play, and mostly approach game. He can be way up the pitch performing “miracles” (with Cristiano), but then in the next second completely forgets that he has to defend. Some have said that he’d be better off playing as a winger and that is correct to some degree.
With an important season coming up and with Real Madrid’s past season being regarded as a flop, there is a need to beat Barcelona, not just in the games between the teams but also in the table. Let’s face it, Barcelona are one of the best teams ever and I think that Mourinho wants someone else as leftback, because he wants four defenders in his back-line. Not three and a leftback who much too often neglects his defensive duties in favour of adding the attack. Whilst I like others enjoy when Marcelo is at the peak of his game, these occasions simply don’t come around often enough.
It’s clear that Mourinho views him as flawed to some extent, otherwise why sign Fabio Coentrão?
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