Cristiano Ronaldo helped usher in a new era of prosperity for Real Madrid, although his presence nearly forced Marcelo to quit the club.
After Ronaldo’s spectacular performances for Manchester United, Real broke then world-record £80 million transfer to sign him in 2009. In 2008, the Portuguese attacker won his first Ballon d’Or in December after leading United to three straight Premier League crowns and a Champions League triumph.
Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso joined Ronaldo in the Spanish capital during the same transfer window when the team tried to produce a new generation of Galacticos.
Ronaldo would go on to star for Real Madrid as the team won the Champions League four times in five years, despite the costly squad’s delayed success.
Marcelo, former Brazilian star, after a falling out with the Portuguese forward a few months prior when their national teams faced each other as both got into a bust-up, contemplated leaving Real Madrid after learning of Ronaldo’s imminent arrival.
🗣️ Marcelo: “My relationship with Cristiano started with a fight in the Brazil-Portugal match. I fouled him because he was too fast.”I kicked him and he grabbed me. I tried too but he was too tall (laughs).Then I got a message that Real Madrid were going to sign him in two… pic.twitter.com/xfzEupskCF
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) March 3, 2025
“My relationship with Cristiano started with a fight,” Marcelo revealed on La Revuelta. “I kicked him; he was very fast. He passed by, elbowed me, and I kicked him, and he grabbed me by the neck. I tried as well, but he was very tall,” he laughed.
“We’ve grabbed each other by the neck in training many times; it’s normal,” Marcelo said.
The incident happened in November 2008 when Brazil defeated Portugal 6-2. Marcelo was booked soon after entering as a substitute, indicating that even if they were only on the field for a few minutes, it was enough to agitate him. “I was informed that Madrid would sign him within two months. He confessed, and I thought, blimey, I’m leaving.”
Together, they took home four Champions League trophies, two LaLiga crowns, two Copa del Reys, and three Club World Cups. Marcelo earned 25 trophies during his 16 years at the Santiago Bernabeu.
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