Real Madrid News
Real Madrid legend close to retiring, does not want to play outside Europe
After 15 incredible years playing at Real Madrid, Marcelo called his time at Santiago Bernabeu quits after the end of the 2021/22 season.
The Brazilian was able to lift the Champions League and La Liga at the end of his term, before officially handing over the captain’s armband to Karim Benzema.
At 34, Marcelo’s next club was uncertain, but it was expected he could leave for MLS or the Middle East for one last big paycheck.
In a shocking turn of events, MARCA have reported that Marcelo is closer to retiring than, in fact, continuing football. He is not tempted by the offers from MLS or the Qatari League, and as it stands, is focusing on his entrepreneurial duties.
The legendary defender has been preparing for life after football for a while now. He owns two football clubs right now: Azuriz in Brazil and Mafra in Portugal.
While Marcelo wanted to continue playing football, it seems he does not have offers from any top European club. He does not want to settle for anything less, too, and as such, retirement has become an option for him.
That said, he knows he can always return to Madrid, albeit in a different role, but as for his immediate future, we might have seen the last of the great left-back.
Arda Guler’s Real Madrid stint has not gotten off to the start he would have hoped to have given the expectation that preceded the transfer.
Having joined in the summer after Real Madrid outbid their competition to win him over from Fenerbahce for a 20-million-euro fee, buzz was high as the winger was expected to slot into the team quite seamlessly, albeit on a rotational basis.
Unfortunately for the 18-year-old, he has been constantly marred by injuries since completing the move.
Reports have stated that after Guler picked up his third injury since his move, Real Madrid have been concerned and want to take things slow with the player to ensure he is fit as soon as possible after an injury to his quadriceps this time.
The Turk is yet to make his competitive debut for the club, and Real Madrid even sacked their medical chief in November, in light of their injury crises since the beginning of the season.
No loan deal for Guler
However, according to Fabrizio Romano in a recent YouTube video, he states that Madrid maintain full trust and patience in the youngster.
Despite his bad luck with injuries, the latest of which he is scheduled to return from after Christmas, the Galacticos have no intention of loaning out Guler to Turkish clubs despite lots of speculation of them doing so of late.
Romano states that Madrid remain firm on not shaking things up too much with the squad, and they want to keep their roster stable, including Arda Guler.
They want to extend their full support and protection to the player as he aims to return to full fitness and finally make his bow for Madrid either by the end of this month or in 2024.
