Marcelo has revealed the Copa Libertadores triumph with boyhood club Fluminense is the most important title of his career.
The full-back came through the youth ranks at Fluminense in 2005, making 30 appearances for the Brazilian club before joining Real Madrid in January 2007.
Marcelo would go on to have a legendary 16-year career at the Santiago Bernabeu, winning six La Liga titles, five UEFA Champions Leagues, two Copa del Reys and four FIFA Club World Cups before leaving in 2022.
The 35-year-old endured a short and ill-fated five month stint at Olympiacos in Greece after leaving Los Blancos, before then re-joining boyhood club Fluminense in 2023.
The arrival of Marcelo proved to be the catalyst for a remarkable season for Fluminense, with the Rio club winning their first ever Copa Libertadores on Saturday evening – beating Boca Juniors 2-1 in a dramatic final at the Maracana.
Speaking after the win, Marcelo told ESPN: “Real Madrid will understand. It’s my most important title, at club level, because it’s the club that raised me.
“I’m winning a very important title with my favourite club, the club that gave me all the tools to have my career, with the employees who saw me grow up. There’s nothing more rewarding than that. It’s priceless.
“I owed a debt to Fluminense. It was written [that we would win the championship].”
In winning the Copa Libertadores, Marcelo became just the 15th player ever to win both the Copa and the Champions League, joining fellow Brazilians Cafu, Roque Junior, Dida, Ronaldinho, Neymar, Danilo, Rafinha, Ramires and David Luiz in achieving the remarkable feat.
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