Marcelo rejected CR7 reunion: “I had an offer from Al Nassr”

Just days after lifting the Copa Libertadores with Fluminense, Marcelo has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to reunite with former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Brazilian left Real Madrid in the summer of 2022, bringing to a close a 15-year career with the club. He had a brief spell in Greece before agreeing a deal to sign for Fluminense, the club where he began his professional career.

Speaking on the Charla podcast, Marcelo said that he had spoken to Ronaldo about the prospect of reuniting at Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr.

“We talked about this a while ago. I had some offers to move, from Al Nassr and others” he said. “But I needed to return here, to my roots.”

Marcelo considered retirement before Fluminense move

At 35 years old, Marcelo can look back on list of achievements almost unparalleled in the sport. He left Real Madrid in 2022 after winning 25 major trophies, making him the most decorated player in the club’s illustrious history.

Marcelo has revealed that he considered retiring after leaving Real Madrid, not wanting to move his family from the city where they had lived for 15 years. His son Enzo plays Real Madrid’s academy and has remained in the Spanish capital to continue progressing through La Cantera.

He explained: “It’s difficult. It’s not that he’s alone, there are people with him, obviously. My coach, who is my brother-in-law, my childhood friend Alex is with him.”

“My wife goes out of her way to go there to stay with him for a week.... If it weren’t for my wife helping me, I don’t think I would have come [to Brazil],” Marcelo said.

Looking back now, he is probably glad that he did. Earlier this month Marcelo added the Copa Libertadores to his brimming trophy collection. It was the first time in Fluminense history that the team had been crowned South American champions.