Roberto Carlos explains why he didn’t attend Marcelo’s farewell

Roberto Carlos is one of the best left-backs in the history of football - some would argue he is the best. But the Brazilian insists that is not the case. In January 2007, Madrid signed a young teenager called Marcelo from Fluminense, with the idea that Roberto Carlos, then aged 33, would take him under his wing during the final six months of his contract and eventually make way for the youngster.

Little did the pair know back then, that Marcelo would not only spend the next 16 seasons at the club, he would also surpass Paco Gento’s titles record. Marcelo bid farewell to Real Madrid earlier this week after having amassed an astonishing 25 titles - two more than Gento.

But Roberto Carlos was curiously absent when Madrid gave Marcelo a send-off with full honours on Monday. Today, he explained why.

“For me, Marcelo is the greatest left-back of all-time. He knows that I think that, I’ve told him many times. It’s sad that he’s leaving Real Madrid but his career isn’t over - he is taking it forward to the next chapter in his professional career. He’s got another four or five years left in the game. We here at Real Madrid are very grateful to him - for the trophies he has won - 25, if I’m not mistaken - exactly the same thing happened to me... quite easily too... I watched him grow. I practically grew up with him at Real Madrid. He joined when he was 17. And I didn’t go to his farewell celebration because I knew that I would cry. I had watched him grow up and look at what he’s done. I’m thankful for the career he’s enjoyed and the luck he’s had in his life. Nowadays, there is always some kind of date - who was the best, Roberto Carlos or Marcelo? No, there is no argument between me and Marcelo - he is almost like a son to me. To see Marcelo triumph and make history with Real Madrid, it’s as though I had won it all too with him”.