Undeniably, this has been a bad week for Real Madrid
Their 4-1 humbling at home to Ajax was a stark reminder of just how far they’ve fallen since winning their third European Cup in succession in Kiev last May.
That win against Liverpool proved to be the final time Cristiano Ronaldo turned out in Real colours and the club’s failure to find an adequate replacement for him has repeatedly come back to haunt them during a miserable 2018/19 campaign.
Inevitably, more of the players that helped Real win an unprecedented three Champions League crowns on the bounce will depart the Bernabeu in the summer as Florentino Perez eyes a major overhaul of the squad.
Luka Modric, holder of the Ballon d’Or, has repeatedly been linked with a move to Inter Milan, and now rumours that Marcelo is set to complete a switch to Italy have also resurfaced.
The Brazilian full-back, a close friend of Ronaldo during their time together in Madrid, is set to follow the Portugal captain to Juventus, according to the Italian press.
Marcelo, an unused sub in the defeat to Ajax on Tuesday, is said to have agreed a four-year contract with the Italian champions. La Stampa (via the Mirror) claim he will earn €12m-a-season in Turin and will possibly replace their existing Brazilian left-back, Alex Sandro, who continues to be linked with a transfer of his own.
Real look certain to end the season without silverware. As well as being dumped out of the Champions League by Ajax, Barcelona ended their Copa del Rey hopes in the semi-finals last month. Barca also look well placed to retain their league title, too. They currently sit seven points clear of second place Atletico Madrid, 12 ahead of Real in third.
