Marcelo recalls Real Madrid arrival and the kindness of Roberto Carlos | OneFootball

Marcelo says Roberto Carlos welcomed and mentored him when he first arrived at Real Madrid, despite being signed as the Brazilian’s long-term successor.

The left-back joined as a teenager in 2007, tasked with replacing his childhood idol on the Bernabeu flank.

Any potential rivalry faded quickly as the pair shared one season, with Roberto Carlos smoothing his adaptation to European football and offering constant support.

"You arrive somewhere, your idol welcomes you warmly knowing that you play in the same position, that I was coming to be 'Roberto Carlos's successor'," he said.

The interview aired on Real Madrid TV’s Campo de Estrellas.

"Marcelo, take my number and write it down. Call me if you need anything."

"He treated me, my wife, my brother-in-law, my grandfather, as if we were his family," Marcelo explained. "It's not normal for someone to treat you so well when they're coming to play for you. In theory, I was coming to take his place, and he helped me a lot."

"I never called him, but he called me," Marcelo recalled. "One Christmas he told me: 'Look, we don't have time to go to Brazil for Christmas because it's only five days, come to my house.'"

Marcelo went on to win five Champions Leagues and six La Liga titles with Madrid. Now retired, he is universally remembered alongside Roberto Carlos, while a World Cup eluded him after Brazil’s 2014 exit.

Source: Goal.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”