Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has decided that left-back Marcelo will be the new team captain after the departure of Sergio Ramos.
Los Blancos confirmed on Wednesday that Ramos will end his 16-year deal with Real this summer after failing to agree a new contract, with his refusal to listen to their demands earlier this year understood to have pushed a wedge between the defender and the club.
In addition to finding someone to replace Ramos in the team, Real must also decide who will fill their leadership in the vacuum. Ramos had been captain since 2015, and according to AS, the next man to wear the bracelet is Marcelo.
Ancelotti respects Marcelo’s experience and sees the 33-year-old, who has been with Real since 2007, as the ideal man to take over from Ramos.
The Brazilian will be the first non-Spaniard to captain Real in over 100 years. Real have had a Spanish captain since 1904, when Guatemalan Federico Revierto gave up the bracelet.
Ramos was named captain in 2015 / James Williamson – AMA / Getty Images
Unfortunately, there is a small problem with Marcelo becoming captain. He is actually not a first team regular and is already being phased out by Ferland Mendy, so Ancelotti will need someone to wear the bracelet in his absence.
The man for that job will be striker Karim Benzema, who will be the team captain when Marcelo is not on the pitch.
Should neither Benzema nor Marcelo play, the third in the captain’s picking order is order back Raphael Varane – who had been expected to seal his own move away from the club this summer but has now been tipped to sign a new contract.
Benzema will be the regular captain / Denis Doyle / Getty Images
The first Spaniard to be included in Ancelotti’s captain’s plans is defender Nacho Fernandez, who is fourth in the table. He is Real’s longest-serving player, having risen through the academy.
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