Juventus and Real Madrid plot remarkable swap deal

Real Madrid defender Marcelo had been linked with Juventus earlier this summer. The player hopes to join back up with former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus, but the fact that Alex Sandro remained in Turin blocked a potential deal. However, the Real Madrid left-back is back in the sights of the Bianconeri. According to CalcioMercato, a transfer could potentially take place already in January, and not next summer as first thought. Marcelo has seemingly fallen out with head coach Julen Lopetegui, who decided to substitute the defender against Girona, before sending him to train with the reserves, according to AS. El Confidencial reported Marcelo and Ronaldo had a very close relationship in Madrid. Marcelo enjoyed a close bond with Ronaldo both on and off the pitch, one he may be unlikely to replicate with any other player on the planet. Juventus had to break the bank in order to get their Ronaldo deal over the line, and recruiting a player of Marcelo's calibre would likely require another big expense considering he has a little less than four years left on his contract. Serie A blogger Arjun Pradeep also nodded at the presence of Marcelo's international compatriot, Alex Sandro, as Juve's existing left-back is a potential stumbling block: https://twitter.com/IndianRegista/status/1017652199831171072 As Tuttosport writes, this speaks in favour of a move to Juventus, which isn't impossible by any means, as long as Alex Sandro is included in the deal. The 30-year-old Marcelo could still have some of his prime years left to go, but with the winning lustre of Ronaldo no longer at Real, there's question as to whether the side carries close to the same silverware threat. Some would argue the Bianconeri would be wiser to invest more time in developing the 27-year-old Sandro, to match those standards regularly seen by his countryman, but he doesn’t seem to attract the same excitement he once did. Both clubs are reportedly considering the swap, although it as always remains to be seen.

Unai Emery could look to sign a new left-back in January