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Marcelo Snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo’s Friendship to Go Back to His Roots Despite Al-Nassr Offer – “I Needed to Return”

Published 11/15/2023, 7:30 PM EST

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Fluminense has put itself on the charts as one of the best teams in South America. The club just won its first Copa Libertadores this year. Marcelo, who joined them this summer, became the most decorated Real Madrid player, clinching his 25th title. The Brazilian recently revealed that he had many lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia. Among them was a chance to join his pal and ex-Los Blancos teammate Cristiano Ronaldo but he preferred returning to his roots.

Fernando Diniz, who is currently the interim manager of Brazil as well, also won his first cup with the South American giants. A possible face-off against David Beckham‘s Inter Miami is now on the cards as an old competition could be revived.

Why did Marcelo snub a reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo?

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During his days at the Santiago Bernabeu, Marcelo was a liked figure on and off the pitch. Cristiano Ronaldo was among his best mates. The two always celebrated on the pitch together and were sources of motivation too. However, rejecting Al Nassr’s deal puts forth a different light on the situation. In a Brazilian podcast with Bruno Cantarelli, when asked Marcelo spoke about his rumored move to the Middle East. He explained, “We [Marcelo and Ronaldo] talked about this some time ago. I had some proposals to leave, not just there [Al Nassr], but I needed to return here [Brazil], to my roots. Something told me that I had to go back”, as compiled by Ojogo and translated by Google Translate.

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Marcelo is an integral part of Diniz’s core team and has been influential in their success in achieving Copa Libertadores glory. With new emerging talents and citing the tough competition across all the country’s leagues, there are talks of reviving an old tournament. The news has got the fans excited more as this year’s Leagues Cup winner from the USA sees a possible face-off against Fernando Diniz’s Fluminenese.

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Is a Marcelo and Lionel Messi face-off on the horizon?

Marcelo eyes a more expanded trophy shelf as the historic Copa Interamericana might make a comeback. Originating in 1969, the tournament showcased a unique clash between the CONCACAF Champions Cup and Copa Libertadores victors with format variations that occurred until its hiatus in 1998.

Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo & Co. Awarded Big Bonuses For 1st Time Despite Being 4 Points Behind Leaders Al-Hilal

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Recent reports hint at the revival of Copa Interamericana next year, proposing a revamped four-club competition. The lineup boasts Club León, Inter Miami, Fluminense, LDU Quito, and each champion in their respective leagues. The potential clash between Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and Marcelo’s Fluminense sparks anticipation, presenting a golden opportunity for both soccer icons to lead their clubs to glory.

Watch this story: Cristiano Ronaldo and All About His Pets

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Written by:

Neil Banerjee

343Articles

One take at a time

Neil has found his niche as a soccer writer at EssentiallySports. With a background in media studies, he possesses a deep appreciation for the intricacies, the strategies and the awe-inspiring nature of the beautiful game, firmly believing that a variety of factors underpin each match. As a devoted Chelsea fan, Neil's passion extends to diving into the stories that surround the club and finding intriguing narratives.
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Edited by:

Daniel D'Cruz