Legendary Real Madrid left-back Marcelo talks Messi, Ronaldo, Barcelona, Pique, Guardiola | OneFootball

Former Real Madrid left-back Marcelo recently made an appearance on ‘La Revuelta’ and took a trip down memory lane, recalling some of his toughest battles in El Clasico.

The Brazilian legend, who spent over a decade at the Santiago Bernabeu, faced Lionel Messi multiple times in the high-stakes clashes between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

He admitted that coming up against the Argentine was always a challenge due to his exceptional dribbling and quick movement.

During the interview, the host described Messi as the greatest footballer in history. Marcelo, however, did not completely agree with the statement, suggesting that “there is no one better in history.”

While he acknowledged Messi’s greatness, he also pointed out that football has seen several legendary figures throughout the years.

Reflecting on his rivalry with Messi

Marcelo reflected on his rivalry with Messi. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The Brazilian full-back, who was an integral part of Real Madrid’s dominant era, also spoke about the difficulty of defending against Messi.

He recalled moments when the Barcelona icon dribbled past him effortlessly, admitting that sometimes he could not even react in time.

“Yes, I appreciate him a lot. He’s a cracker, he’s incredible. I thought you were going to show me the videos of him dribbling (laughs).

“I couldn’t even see him pass. He’s very fast. There is no problem at all. I was born in a place where dribbling was the best thing, not being dribbled,” he said.

Born in a great era

Marcelo is greateful to have played with Ronaldo and against Messi. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

Marcelo also took a moment to appreciate that “we are fortunate to have played in the same era as Cristiano and Messi.”

He highlighted the intense competition between the two, particularly during their time at Real Madrid and Barcelona, when both players constantly pushed each other to perform at the highest level.

“Cristiano thinks he is better. There was a time when it was fucked because one scored two, the other had to score three.

“We’ve seen this live and we’ve enjoyed it a lot. Many people want to compare but forget to enjoy this,” he added.

Pep Guardiola’s tenure

Beyond the fierce rivalry, Marcelo shared that he maintains a good relationship with some former Barcelona players.

Marcelo is still in touch with a few Barcelona players. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

He mentioned that he has regular interactions with Gerard Pique and respects players like Carles Puyol, Andrés Iniesta, and Xavi Hernandez.

“I get along very well with some Barça players. I have dealings with Pique, I talk to him. Pique is very authentic and very sincere. I like people to be sincere. I have a lot of respect for Puyol, Iniesta, Xavi.”

He also reflected on how difficult it was to play against Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, as their dominance in possession made it extremely challenging for opponents to control the game.

“Guardiola’s era was complicated. We had to try to have the ball, but it was very difficult,” said Marcelo.

Despite all the intense battles, Marcelo looks back at his career with fondness, appreciating the experiences he had on the pitch and the legendary opponents he faced.

Source: Mundo Deportivo