Latest news with #Marcelo
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kylian Mbappe cuts holiday short to make touching gesture for departing Real Madrid star Lucas Vazquez
Madrid hosted farewell ceremony for Vazquez 34-year-old leaves after 18 years at the club Mbappe attended ceremony after cutting holiday short Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱 WHAT HAPPENED? Real Madrid organised an institutional farewell ceremony within the Valdebebas premises for Vazquez, with the long-serving warrior departing the club after spending 10 years in the first-team and lifting 23 titles. In a touching gesture, Mbappe, along with goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, cut short their vacations to attend the ceremony for one of their ex-captains. Even Marcelo, who shared the dressing room with Vazquez for seven seasons, was present at the event. THE BIGGER PICTURE Vazquez first joined Madrid as a 16-year-old in 2007 and rose rapidly through the youth ranks. He got his first taste of top-flight football in the 2014-15 season, when he was loaned out to Espanyol in La Liga. The following season, he earned a promotion to the first team, and became one of the most important squad players, often sacrificing himself out of team's best interests. He earned the privilege of the wearing the captain's armband on numerous occasions WHAT LUCAS VAZQUEZ SAID Speaking at his farewell, Vazquez struggled to hold back his tears. He said: "This is one of the most important days of my life. Thank you for every applause and every gesture of support, you've made me feel at home. Today it's time to say bye, but I'll never say goodbye to my Real Madrid. "I've had the privilege of sharing a dressing room with legends and winning titles, but above all, I've been happy. I've felt valued, respected, and loved. To the president, Florentino Perez, thank you for allowing me to fulfill my dream. To Jose Angel Sanchez, thank you for putting your all into the negotiations. "To my parents, since becoming a father, I understand even more everything you did for me. To you, Mateo, my brother, thank you for instilling in me your love of football. Without you, I wouldn't be a footballer; I've fulfilled both of our dreams. And to you, Maca, you gave me peace of mind and support to keep believing in myself. We've laughed and cried together. You're the person who knows me best and also the one who has endured me the longest, being my best life partner. I can never thank you for everything you've done for me. "You've given me my children; you're my greatest pride. I hope that one day you'll understand what wearing this shirt meant to your father. I've fulfilled my dream. I'm leaving, but Real Madrid will always be my home. I am and always will be Lucas Vazquez, a canterano Real Madrid." WHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE AND VAZQUEZ? Mbappe will return to pre-season duties in around two weeks time, with Madrid set to face Osasuna on August 19. Meanwhile, Vazquez is yet to decide his next destination. Rumour has it that he turned down an opportunity to rejoin Espanyol. He currently has offers from Qatar and Turkish side Fenerbahce on the table.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Marcelo picks his dream opponent for Real Madrid in Club World Cup final
Real Madrid, PSG, Fluminense, and Chelsea are the four teams that have reached the semi-finals of the Club World Cup. With the final set for July 13, Real Madrid and Brazil legend Marcelo has made it clear who he wants to see fighting for the trophy. Advertisement Posting on his social media account 'X', Marcelo shared his excitement, writing: 'Let's go MY Madrid!!! A Real Madrid vs Fluminense final would be epic. It would be a dream come true.' For Marcelo, seeing these two clubs face each other would be special, as both Real Madrid and Fluminense are close to his heart. However, for his dream final to happen, Real Madrid need to beat PSG in their semi-final, while Fluminense must get past Chelsea. Only then will the two clubs meet on the grand stage, making Marcelo's wish a reality. Barcelona's connection with the teams It must be remembered that Marcelo's ties with Fluminense and Real Madrid run deep. He started his professional journey at Fluminense, where he made his first-team debut in 2005. Advertisement His talent quickly caught the eye of European scouts, and by November 2006, he had signed for Real Madrid. There, he became a true legend, playing 16 seasons with Los Blancos and winning an incredible 25 trophies, including five Champions League titles. After leaving Real Madrid in 2022, Marcelo had a short stint with Olympiakos before returning to Fluminense in February 2023. He achieved another milestone by helping Fluminense win the Copa Libertadores. Marcelo retired from professional football in February 2025 after leaving Fluminense the previous year. Now, as a fan, he hopes to watch the two teams that shaped his career clash in a final that would mean everything to him and to many football lovers around the world.
Local Germany
27-06-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
'System feels unfair': The struggle of getting German citizenship as a freelancer
Kathryn, an American citizen who works as a freelancer, moved to Germany more than 15 years ago. Since then, she's faced years of bureaucratic challenges: paying for tax audits and lawyers, receiving incomplete or unhelpful information from immigration authorities and navigating a system that feels stacked against her. Staying in Germany as a freelancer, she said, has never been easy – or cheap. Now, she's beginning her application for German citizenship, a process that's proving to be just as burdensome. Marcelo, a freelance artist from Brazil, has faced similar challenges. After living in Germany for seven years, Marcelo began the process of applying for German citizenship in October last year and has been going back and forth with the immigration authorities ever since. 'I would say that there is quite a discriminatory practice between freelancers and people who have a regular nine-to-five job,' Marcelo said. Both Kathryn and Marcelo have asked to be identified only by their first names because they are still in the process of applying for citizenship. Working as a freelancer does not disqualify you from becoming a German citizen, but as Kathryn and Marcelo have both found, it can make the process slower, more expensive and more confusing. Advertisement Freiberufler visa makes freelance work possible for expats The Freiberufler visa allows non-EU citizens to be self-employed or work as freelancers in Germany for three years at a time. It's an attractive option for many foreign residents, as the visa offers a way to work in Germany without a full-time employment contract. To receive this visa, applicants must show letters of intent from clients and evidence they can support themselves financially. READ ALSO: The compete guide to getting a freelance visa in Germany As a reminder to become a German citizen, all applicants are generally required to have been living in Germany for at least five years, have a long-term residence permit or permanent right of residence, pass a citizenship test and speak German at a B1 level. But for foreign freelancers who hope to one day become naturalised, it's important to understand how working as a freelancer can complicate the process of attaining citizenship. Advertisement Additional paperwork, additional expenses Because most freelancers have several employers, rather than just one, documenting taxes and income can get complicated. Freelancers applying for citizenship in Berlin must submit a Prüfungsbericht , or an audit report conducted by a tax professional, according to the ServicePortal Berlin website . Freelancers must also submit their last Steuerbescheid , or tax assessment, and a tax clearance certificate, or Steuerunbedenklichkeitsbescheinigung. In contrast employees with salaried jobs need only to submit their employment contract, their last six months of salary statements and a statement from their employer concerning the duration of the employment, the ServicePortal website says. German immigration authorities can be quite meticulous when reviewing freelancers' financial documents, and even minor discrepancies between invoices and bank statements can raise red flags. In the more than 15 years Kathryn has spent as a freelancer, she said she's run into all kinds of issues reporting her taxes and income. As an example she once received a €23 refund on a Deutsche Bahn ticket. When she later submitted a bank statement that included that refund, the clerk reviewing her documents accused her of receiving compensation for unreported freelance work with Deutsche Bahn. Advertisement Citizenship comes at a cost Another challenge freelancers face when applying for citizenship is the heavy cost burden. Just getting a Prüfungsbericht can sometimes cost upwards of €1,000. Over the course of the application process, Marcelo has already paid around €2,000 for lawyers and tax professionals, as well as for official translations of documents. 'I had to ask for help from my parents, because I couldn't do it myself,' Marcelo said. 'So I do feel like it's something that is quite prohibitive.' Kathryn estimated she'd spent between €5,000 and €10,000 annually on freelance-related expenses since moving to Germany. That includes lawyers, tax professionals, document translations and insurance, not to mention all the hours of income she's lost. 'Honestly, it's not felt worth it. I mean, I kept fighting for it. I kept staying here,' she said. 'But I would say altogether, it has not been worth it.' Freelancers say German bureaucracy isn't made for them A lack of transparency and clarity from immigration authorities is another complaint foreign freelancers have voiced. Kathryn said she has never been told exactly how much money she needs to make in order to prove she can support herself. Even though options like the Freiberufler visa make freelancing a viable path for international residents, some freelancers still say the system doesn't feel like it's set up for them. 'German society is not really geared towards being a freelancer,' Marcelo said. 'You are supposed to be here really in a like nine-to-five job contract…that's what they want.' READ ALSO: Five hard truths about starting out as a freelancer in Germany Kathryn said she and her husband, a German national who also freelances, have considered leaving Germany altogether because of these bureaucratic challenges. Kathryn has looked into relocating to countries including the Netherlands, New Zealand and Senegal – all of which were friendlier to freelancers than Germany is, she said. 'Why is it so hard here?' Kathryn said. 'I just find there's not a lot of clarity here.' Have you had similar experiences applying for German citizenship as a freelancer. We want to hear from you. Share your story in the comments section or email us at news@
Daily Mirror
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
'I've known Cristiano Ronaldo for years – I can't accept claim on Lionel Messi'
Real Madrid icon Marcelo, who played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and faced Lionel Messi multiple times, has shared his thoughts on who is the greatest footballer of all time Real Madrid legend Marcelo has refused to label Lionel Messi the greatest footballer of all time. He witnessed the Argentinian maestro's magic up close during his peak years at Barcelona. The Brazilian left-back, who faced off against Messi in 30 fiery El Clasicos and saw him net 21 goals, also observed the intense rivalry between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as they vied for the title of the world's top player. In their prime, the pair dominated the Ballon d'Or award. Messi has won the trophy eight times to Ronaldo's five. However, Real Madrid hero Marcelo hesitated to declare Messi the sport's best-ever player after the statement was put to him during an appearance on La Revuelta. Presenter David Broncano suggested that Marcelo had encountered the sport's finest in Messi, but the defender responded: "Well, I appreciate him a lot. He's an excellent player, he's unbelievable. I couldn't even see him pass. He's very quick. "It's difficult to choose the best in history. What about those who have played before? Maradona, Pele, Di Stefano, Cruyff..." Marcelo soon began to reflect on the incredible competitiveness between Ronaldo and Messi during their time together in La Liga. The former Brazil international argued that their intense rivalry somewhat overshadowed their individual brilliance. "We are fortunate to have played in the same era as Cristiano and Messi," he said. However, Marcelo was clear about what Ronaldo thought of Messi during his time in Spain. "Cristiano thinks he is better. He has said so," Marcelo said. "Remember that there was a time when it was really difficult because if Messi scored two, Cristiano had to score three. If Cristiano scored three, Messi had to score four. 'We've seen this live, and we've enjoyed it a lot. Many people want to compare them, but they forget to enjoy that.' The Brazilian defender clinched six La Liga titles and five Champions League trophies with Real Madrid. He may have won more if it hadn't been for a Messi-inspired Barcelona. The Argentine won 10 league titles and four Champions Leagues during his spell at the Camp Nou. Despite the two clubs' fierce rivalry, Marcelo revealed his bond with several Barca legends. "I get on very well with some Barça players," he said. "Piqué is very genuine, very honest. I like people to be sincere. I have a lot of respect for Puyol, Iniesta, Xavi. Guardiola's era was complicated. We had to try to have the ball, but it was very difficult." Meanwhile, Ronaldo and Messi continue to build on their legacies in the twilight years of their respective careers. Ronaldo recently celebrated Portugal winning the Nations League and will aim to lead his nation at next year's World Cup. Messi's immediate focus is on helping Inter Miami advance in the Club World Cup. Javier Mascherano's team drew their opening match with Egyptian side Al-Ahly on Sunday. The club face Porto on Thursday before concluding their group phase against Palmeiras next Tuesday.
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Why Alexander-Arnold is not allowed to wear number 66 for Real Madrid
Trent Alexander-Arnold wore the number 66 at Liverpool, but La Liga rules prevent him from doing so at Real top-flight clubs must name a 25-man 'A' squad at the start of each season, and every player included is obliged to wear a number from 1-25, with goalkeepers allocated the numbers one, 13, and 25. Youth players not included in the initial 'A' squad can wear higher the time of Alexander-Arnold's signing, the only outfield numbers available between one and 25 were 12 and 18, and the England international opted for the number 12 was previously worn by France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, but he switched to number six a year ago after the departure of Nacho to that, it was worn for 16 years by Brazilian left-back Marcelo, who won 25 major trophies during his time with the Bolton defender Ivan Campo also wore that number during his four-year stint at the Bernabeu. Why did Alexander-Arnold wear 66 at Liverpool? Alexander-Arnold wore the number 66 shirt on his Liverpool debut - against Tottenham in the EFL Cup in October 2016 - and never full-back had no personal connection to the number - it was simply allocated to him as a even when he overtook Nathaniel Clyne to become the Reds' first-choice right-back, he opted to stick with 66. Liverpool kit co-ordinator Lee Radcliffe told the club's website: "When we get any young lads that come down from the academy, we always deliberately try to give them a high-ish number. We don't like to give them a low number in case they think they've made it straight away."When you see him now lifting trophies and celebrating with No 66 on the back, it's a weird feeling and I can't really describe it. It's weird to see such a high number and for someone to be happy with it!"Obviously Trent's got quite attached to the number."Alexander-Arnold is not the only current England player to have a high squad number early in their career and persist with Declan Rice (41) and Phil Foden (47) have maintained the shirt numbers with which they made their professional debuts. Why won't Alexander-Arnold use his surname on his Real Madrid shirt? Real have also revealed Alexander-Arnold will wear the name 'Trent' on the back of his a first name rather than a surname on the back of a shirt is not uncommon. Players including Alexander-Arnold's former team-mates Virgil van Dijk and Darwin Nunez use their first name, as have others including Dele Alli, Sergio Busquets, Memphis Depay, James Rodriguez, Alexis Sanchez and Jobe has not explained the reasoning between dropping his surname, but has also altered his Instagram handle to just his first name, indicating the decision is about his wider personal of a mononym - particularly one which is fairly unique - is often seen as a strength in branding and merchandising as it stands out and is easier to remember. Mononyms are often used as part of a branding strategy by talent agencies who manage singers, actors, and other high-profile public figures. Do other big European leagues restrict squad numbers? La Liga is not alone among Europe's top five leagues in restricting the squad numbers players can choose Bundesliga requires first-team players to wear numbers from 1-40. If a team uses more than 40 players in a season, squad numbers should be assigned consecutively from that point Premier League, Ligue 1, and Serie A don't have restrictions beyond allowing players to choose from 1-99. Before 2022, Ligue 1 did also have a restriction - mandating that players use numbers A has also relaxed more stringent rules, though one it has maintained is a ban on the number 88, which is sometimes used in Italy to demonstrate support for squad numbers are much more common in Serie A than the other top five European leagues - in the 2024-25 season, every club aside from Juventus had at least one first-team player using number 80 or higher, and eight clubs had a player wearing number 99. What about other unusual shirt numbers? When Brazilian goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni - a prolific scorer of free-kicks and penalties - broke the appearance record at Sao Paulo in 2005, he wore a commemorative shirt bearing the number 618 to mark his tally in an official match against Atletico 2010, an administrative quirk meant Australia midfielder Tommy Oar became the first player to wear a three-digit number in an official international fixture. The former Utrecht player made his international debut wearing number striker Hicham Zerouali was allowed to wear the number 0 at Aberdeen in 2000 after fans nicknamed him 'Zero' - but the number was banned for the following the number one shirt is traditionally worn by goalkeepers, some outfield players have worn it, including the Netherlands' Ruud Geels at the 1974 World Cup, Ossie Ardiles for Argentina at the 1978 edition, and former Juventus and Barcelona midfielder Edgar Davids during his 15-month spell as player-manager of Barnet. What is Ask Me Anything? This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team. Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions. This question was submitted by Mark in Stoke-on-Trent. Thanks, Mark!We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you team explores everything you need to know and calls upon a network of contacts including our experts and answer your questions from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom, and go behind the scenes at some of the world's biggest sporting coverage spans the BBC Sport website, app, social media and YouTube accounts, plus BBC TV and radio. More questions answered... Who are Premier League clubs playing in pre-season?How is the Ballon d'Or winner decided?Why are 1bn euro release clauses becoming more common?When are the 2025-26 Premier League fixtures released?Who has qualified for the 2025-26 Champions League?
