Marcelo Vieira da Silva Júnior (born 12 May 1988) is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Real Madrid and the Brazil national football team. Marcelo is said to be gifted with incredible technical ability, a fierce shot, and good passing. Mainly a left defender, he can also operate as a left winger.
After his breakthrough season Marcelo was praised by footballs legends such as Maldid and Maradona who called him the best at his position.
Marcelo joined Real Madrid during the January transfer window in 2007. On his arrival, club president Ramón Calderón said, "He is an important signing for us. He is a young player who will inject some freshness into the side and is part of our plan to bring younger players into the squad. We're very happy because he's a pearl that half of Europe wanted.] Many spectators hailed him as Roberto Carlos' potential successor in the left-back role.
Marcelo made his debut as a substitute in the 2–0 defeat against Deportivo La Coruña on 7 January 2007. On 14 April 2007, then coach Fabio Capello gave Marcelo his first start for Real Madrid against Racing de Santander. Real Madrid controversially lost the game 2–1. In the 2007–08 season, Marcelo had started nearly all of Madrid's league games under the new manager Bernd Schuster. His ability, speed running across the field, attack, and defence had enabled him to become a very important player for Real Madrid.
