Real Madrid captain Marcelo has admitted that he would like to retire at the club but understands that the decision is not in his hands.
Speaking on El Hormiguero, as relayed by MARCA, Marcelo has claimed that he wishes to see out his playing career at Real Madrid but understands that the club will have the final call on his contract, which expires at the end of the season.
One of the best modern-day attacking full-backs, Marcelo, has achieved great success at Real Madrid since joining the club back in 2007 from boyhood club Fluminense. The 33-year-old has made a total of 540 appearances for Los Blancos, scoring 38 goals and registering a mind-boggling 101 assists.
During this time, Marcelo has won almost every trophy available at the club level. However, the Brazilian has endured a sharp decline in form in recent times, while fitness issues have also plagued him. It has resulted in Ferland Mendy becoming the undisputed first-choice left-back at the Santiago Bernabeu.
And Marcelo, despite being handed the captain’s armband this season following the departure of Sergio Ramos, is staring at an uncertain future. The veteran star’s current contract expires in the summer, and there have been no talks of a renewal yet. However, he has insisted that he would like to continue at Real Madrid beyond this season until his retirement.
?️| Marcelo: "I would like to retire in Real Madrid, but it's not up to me." #rmalive pic.twitter.com/XnWWzNB7Eu
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) March 1, 2022
“I’m calm. This is my club. I have the idea of playing until my son grows up so that I can play with him, and I want to keep going at a high level. Now we have important matches. I’m the captain of the best team in the world. I’m calm and I feel protected. I’m not thinking too far ahead. Everything comes to an end. I’d like to retire here, but it’s not up to me to make the decision,” he said, on his future.
The Brazilian added that being captain does not grant him any privileges in terms of contract renewals. “There are no privileges,” Marcelo said. “It gives me pride to be one of the captains, but there are three more. It’s a big responsibility.”
Marcelo is a legend at Real Madrid. However, with no attempts made at renewing his contract by the club so far, an exit in the summer looks likely. The 33-year-old is not short of suitors either, with several clubs back in his homeland vying to sign him. In addition, Major League Soccer outfit Inter Miami are also interested in the veteran.
