Although the futures of Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos might have been dominating the headlines as Real Madrid return to training, another long-serving player has secured his place at the club by signing a new five-year contract.
Brazilian left-back Marcelo – who is a hot tip to become new club captain if Casillas and Ramos both leave this summer – has put pen to paper on an extension until the summer of 2020.
The 27-year-old has already amassed 320 appearances for Madrid since joining from Fluminense in 2007, making him the foreign player with the fourth highest number of outings in the club’s history.
Although he has a long way to go to catch up with the leader in that category, fellow Brazilian left-back Roberto Carlos (527 games for Los Blancos), Marcelo is on track to overtake the legendary Alfredo Di Stefano (396) and move into second place in around 18 months.
Interestingly, Marcelo shares an agent with Ramos: the Spanish defender’s brother Rene, whose supposed breakdown in relationship with club president Florentino Perez is perhaps on the mend after the pair agreed Marcelo’s new contract.
Meanwhile, Iker Casillas’ protracted departure from the club is set to be finalised this weekend with Los Blancos and the goalkeeper on the verge of agreeing terms with Porto.
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With plans to stage a farewell ceremony to Casillas on Friday eventually scrapped, Madrid are now instead lining up Porto to be friendly opponents at the Bernabeu in mid-August to give fans an opportunity to wish their skipper farewell.
Madrid are continuing to close in on Espanyol keeper Kiko Casilla to replace the outgoing veteran, with reports last night claiming that the clubs have agreed a fee of €6 million for the 28 year-old, who has made one international appearance for Spain.
Real Madrid announced that Marcelo has renewed his contract, he will now remain at the club until 30 June 2020. pic.twitter.com/Z1rs0nbJrs
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) July 10, 2015
New manager Rafa Benitez took charge of his first training sessions yesterday, leading the team through a double session in sweltering summer heat ahead of this weekend’s trip to Australia for a pre-season training camp, with the opening friendly fixture taking place against Roma in Melbourne next weekend.
Despite continuing rumours linking him with a departure to Manchester United, Ramos was present to take part in the sessions, but Cristiano Ronaldo was absent after being given permission to fly straight to Australia from Japan, where he has been carrying out promotional work.
