Real Madrid defender Marcelo will miss the Champions League semi-final return leg against Chelsea due to a bizarre reason, according to reports.
The La Liga giants have been struggling with injuries lately and players are starting to return to fitness, but it now appears that they’ll be without Marcelo for the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
However, This has nothing to do with fitness or suspension, according to El Mundo, Marcelo will not be on the plane to London as the Brazilian has been randomly picked as a Madrid resident for election duties on May 4.
There were hopes that it might end in time for him to return and take part, but there are covid-19 protocols that make it difficult and it looks like he’s going to be forced to miss the huge clash.
The reports also claimed that Real Madrid are currently fighting with the electoral board to free the player in order to take part in the return leg, but nothing has been agreed at this point.
There is some precedent in this matter as it’s reported that a Levante player was able to escape similar duty back in 2019 but that was in a different city so it might not matter in this case.
Marcelo may not be an obvious difference maker for the second leg but he’s definitely one of Zidane’s favourites in the big games, so this will be a huge blow for Real if they can’t find a way out of this.
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After the game, Marcelo issued a warning to his team-mates, telling official club channels: “We have to go [to Stamford Bridge] to win. We have to go for it and play high up in their half.”
And the Champions League semi-final clash between Chelsea and Real Madrid is finely poised after the 1-1 draw in Spain on Tuesday.
