Spanish Primera Division – Player Profile: Marcelo Vieira da Silva Júnior
Marcelo is a Real Madrid player currently who known to be one of the best potential full backs in the world. He is seen by many as the successor to Roberto Carlos, the Brazilian legend to was famous for his notorious onslaughts through the midfield and scoring
stunning goals. The young Brazilian was born in the famous city of Rio de Janiero and started playing five a side outdoor football at the tender age of nine years old.
By the time Marcelo reached his teenage years, arguably Brazil’s most famous club Fluminense approached him for his signature, despite belonging to a very poor background Marcelo did not give up his hope for a career as a professional footballer and signed
up with the Brazilian giants. In 2006, Real Madrid’s scouts spotted Vieira’s progress in the Brazilian football league and in the winter transfer window of the 2006-2007 season; Marcelo was signed up by Spain’s most successful club.
On Marcelo’s signature for Madrid, their president Ramon Calderon said that Marcelo is an important signing for them and also highlighted the fact that he is still young which will inject some freshness into the aging Real squad. Since his arrival in Spain,
Marcelo has been played as a left back and also sometimes as a left winger, his performances in the famous white shirt for Madrid have prompted comparisons with another legendary Madristas left back, Roberto Carlos.
Marcelo’s first game for Real Madrid was against Racing de Santander, however he had made a substitute appearance for the club in their two nil defeat to Deportivo La Coruna on 7th of January 2007. His energetic performances at the left back position caused
Real’s manager, Bernd Shuster to pick him in the first team regularly throughout the rest of the season.
However, European football’s competitive nature took its toll on Marcelo whose defensive abilities came under question when Juande Ramos took over as the manager from Schuster. The young Brazilian defender fell out of favour with the new manager and was
relegated to a substitute spot. Marcelo’s first goal for Madrid came in their four nil victory over Sporting Gijon and after the game Ramos declared that Marcelo’s future at the club will be as a left winger rather than a left back due to his natural offensive
tendencies.
The Brazilian international scored his second goal for Madrid against the Spanish club Almeria and his third also came in the Spanish League against Recreativo de Huelva. Marcelo during his time at Real, has been witness to four new managers the latest one
being Jose Mourinho. The young Brazilian did well during his predecessors, Manuel Pelliegrini’s single season reign. On fifth of February, 2010 Marcelo received an offer of an extended contract from Real Madrid which he duly signed, according to his latest
contract Marcelo will stay with the Spanish giants till the summer of 2015.
Marcelo’s time with the Brazilian national team has also been quite eventful. He won his first cap for the legendary men in yellow against Wales, a match which Brazil won by two goals to nil. However recently, under Dunga, the young left back only managed
to make it to the standby squad list for the FIFA 2010 World Cup.
Brazilian F.A replaced Dunga with Mano Menezes after their disappointing experience at the FIFA World Cup. Despite the fact that Marcelo is relatively inexperienced, he was selected by Menezes to star for Brazil in their friendly against U.S.A in early August
before the Spanish league season kicked off. In the new Spanish league season, Real Madrid have deployed Marcelo yet again as their regular right back. Under the management of Jose Mourinho, Marcelo has definitely grown as a defender, he already had plenty
of attacking potential but under the Portuguese special one, he has truly excelled as full back.
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