Real Madrid’s Brazilian left-back Marcelo has obtained Spanish nationality this week, freeing up a non-EU slot.
The 23-year-old attacking full-back, who has played 124 games for Los Merengues, qualified having spent four-and-a-half years in Spain. It now frees up one of the Real Madrid squad’s three non-EU slots, one that could be filled by fellow Brazilian Neymar, who has been continually linked with the Madrid side this summer.
Marcelo signed for Real in January 2007 and was immediately cited as the natural heir to Roberto Carlos. Initial struggles to adapt to the Spanish game however, saw him in and out of the side under various Coaches until Jose Mourinho’s arrival last summer.
Mourinho originally also distrusted the No 12’s overly-attacking temperament, but in working closely with the Brazil international through the season, has discovered a more reliable – albeit still defensively abstract – side to the left-back’s game emerge. Marcelo was subsequently one of the team’s more consistent performers last term.
