(Reuters) – Veteran Brazilian defender Marcelo praised his boyhood club Fluminense for winning the Copa Libertadores title, considering it the biggest achievement of his career, surpassing the Champions League titles he earned with Real Madrid. The team secured their inaugural victory in the CONMEBOL South American club competition by defeating Argentina’s Boca Juniors 2-1 in extra time.
Throughout his 16 seasons at Real Madrid, the 35-year-old defender garnered not only five Champions League triumphs but also six LaLiga titles, five Spanish Super Cups, four Club World Cups, three European Super Cups, and two Copa del Rey trophies. As a result, he has emerged victorious in 18 out of 21 club-level finals he has competed in.
Marcelo, who started the final and was substituted at half-time, rejoined his childhood club in February after a stint with Olympiakos in Greece following his departure from Real Madrid. He spoke to ESPN about his feelings regarding the win, stating, “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.”
By clinching both the Copa Libertadores and the Champions League, Marcelo has joined an elite group of 15 players, which includes Ronaldinho, Neymar, and Julian Alvarez, who have conquered both intercontinental club tournaments. In reference to Fluminense, he expressed, “I owed a debt to Fluminense. It was written (that we would win the championship).”
Angelica Medina reporting in Mexico City; Editing by Christopher Cushing
