He was supposed to start the last minutes of the match, but was finally sent back to the bench by the coach. The legendary defender of Real Madrid, Marcelo, finally had to leave the team of which he is a pupil, after an unprecedented rift.
Photo: ČTK / imago sportfotodienst / Allan Calisto
Defender Marcelo finished playing in Fluminense due to a rift with the coach.
Marcelo developed into one of the best left-backs in football history at Real Madrid, spending 15 years at the club – winning six La Liga titles and five Champions League titles.
He left in 2022 and after a short stint at Olympiakos Piraeus in Greece, sealed his dream return to Brazilian Fluminense, from which he went on to big football.
But the 36-year-old’s second stop at Fluminense ended with an incredibly bitter taste. On Saturday, Fluminense drew 2-2 with Gremio in Brazil’s top flight after Reinaldo scored the visitors’ equalizer from the penalty spot in the 99th minute.
Marcelo was supposed to come on as a substitute when the end of regular time was approaching and the home team was leading 2-1. He was undressed and ready to board, but after a while manager Mano Menezes shouted and raged at him, then pushed him away and ordered him to sit down.
There were reports that Marcelo did not listen to the instructions given to him by the coach and later returned to the bench with an insulted look on his face. A video of the unseen sideline incident has gone viral and has been the subject of much debate among fans.
But things took a turn for the worse for Marcelo as it turned out to be his last act in a Fluminense shirt. The club confirmed in a statement that his contract was terminated by mutual agreement a few hours after the event.
“Fluminense FC and Marcelo Vieira announce the termination of the contract by mutual agreement between both parties,” the statement read.
“The institutional and emotional ties between Fluminense and Marcelo continue to be maintained. The athlete’s name was recently immortalized at the stadium in the Xerém training center. Fluminense thanks Marcelo and, as always, will continue to support his ambitions in all his challenges,” added the club.
Source: sportweb.pravda.sk
