The start of a legend. Brazilian left-back Marcelo (34), at the end of his contract with Real Madrid, confirmed that he would not extend, following the coronation in the Champions League against Liverpool this Saturday (1-0). “It’s an incredible emotion because it’s my last game at Real Madrid, he said in comments relayed by AS. Leaving Madrid on a Champions League is an immense joy. It’s not a sad day. We discussed it and decided it was better that way. Arrived from Fluminense in January 2007, Marcelo played 545 matches for the Merengue, winning 6 times La Liga and 5 times the Champions League. With 25 trophies in total, he is the most successful player in Real history. He had only played 18 matches including 7 starts this season.
SEE ALSO – The best of Marcelo at Real Madrid (2007-2022)
Were Los Merengues only waiting for the end of the season to announce the news? The well-informed journalist Fabrizio Romano (Sky Sports, The Guardian …) says he learned, on the night of Madrid’s coronation, that Luka Modric extended his contract for one season at Real. “Verbal agreement concluded two months ago, it is now signed”, assures the journalist. Modric, 36, is currently a free player as of July 1. The Croatian midfielder has again become essential this season, playing 45 matches including 40 starts with Real, champion of Spain and Europe.
At the end of the contract in Angers, Mathias Pereira Lage is packing up after three seasons in Maine-et-Loire. The versatile side, who can play on the left as well as on the right, has signed up until 2025 with Stade Brestois. He played 25 matches including 12 as a starter this season in Angers. The former Portuguese international hopeful thus goes from 14th to 11th in Ligue 1.
According to the Catalan daily Sport, Marcos Alonso is “very close” to joining FC Barcelona this summer. The Spanish left side (31) will be out of contract in a year at Chelsea. He would have asked for his departure and would have agreed on the terms of a lease until 2025 with Barça. Trained at Real Madrid, Alonso only played one first-team match there before leaving in 2010. He is Chelsea’s 5th most used outfield player this season, with 46 appearances for 5 goals and 5 assists .
According to the German daily Bild, there are only “details” left to settle for Dominik Szoboszlai to join Real Sociedad. The Hungarian attacking midfielder (21) did not win at RB Leipzig where he suffered from strong competition, in particular from Christopher Nkunku. He was recruited from RB Salzburg in January 2021 for €22 million. Real Sociedad, 6th in La Liga and qualified for the next Europa League, will welcome him either on loan or on transfer with a buyout clause in favor of Leipzig.
