Teamwork makes the dream work

Marcelo’s Fluminense contract terminated after conflict with coach

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RIO DE JANEIRO — Former Actual Madrid nice Marcelo had his contract at boyhood membership Fluminense terminated two months early on Saturday, sooner or later after the defender’s touchline spat with coach Mano Menezes.

The Brazilian membership mentioned in an announcement that the choice was by mutual settlement.

“The institutional and emotional bonds between Fluminense and Marcelo stay untouched,” Fluminense mentioned.

Marcelo didn’t remark.

Final yr, Marcelo gained the Rio de Janeiro state championship and the Copa Libertadores titles with Fluminense, his first skilled membership earlier than he joined Actual Madrid on the finish of 2006 at age 18. He gained 5 Champions Leagues and 6 La Ligas at Madrid.

Menezes was going to make use of the 36-year-old Marcelo in its place within the ultimate minutes of Fluminense’s conflict towards Gremio in a Brazilian league match. The defender appeared to dispute the coach’s directions, who determined to subject striker John Kennedy as a substitute.

Fluminense led 2-1 on the time, however Gremio scored from the spot shortly earlier than the ultimate whistle to equalize on the Maracana Stadium.

“I used to be going to carry Marcelo in at the moment, however I heard one factor that I didn’t like and I modified my thoughts,” Menezes mentioned at a information convention. “He wasn’t getting in to unravel any downside for us, he was stepping in to allow us to maintain what we had [on the scoreboard]. It was simply two, three minutes to the top.”

Fluminense is twelfth within the Brazilian league with 37 factors from 32 matches.