Arsenal and Marcelo: No, no, no, no, no

There are tentative reports linking Arsenal with a move for Real Madrid left-back Marcelo. I could not really think of anything worse.

As the summer progresses and the business stalls, the transfer rumours will only get sillier and sillier. And this week one of the more foolish ones surfaced: Arsenal were named as a potential landing spot for wantaway Real Madrid left-back Marcelo.

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The Brazilian defender has reportedly asked to leave the Bernabeu after Ferland Mendy arrived this summer and is expected to supplant him. His starting role is under great jeopardy and he apparently is wanting a new challenge away from the sheer dominance he enjoyed at Madrid. And the Gunners are allegedly one of a number of interested clubs.

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Now, I do have some problems believing these initial reports. Arsenal have frequently stated that they want to focus on youth and replenish what is already an ageing squad. Adding a 31-year-old does not quite make sense in that context. Moreover, Marcelo is not the normal type of target, a little too flashy, and likely has better offers than slipping out of the Champions League. Nevertheless, I have a bigger problem with these reports than just the fact that I do not really believe them.

There is not one part of me that wants this deal to go through, if there is even a potential deal on the table. Not from a fan angle of being excited about a new player, not from an analytical angle of it being a smart signing, not from a footballing or financial angle. I have no interest in Marcelo coming to north London.

Now, I understand that plenty of the YouTube football fans will gawp over the possibility of having a silkily skilful left-back like Marcelo arrive at the Emirates. And I know that he is a proven winner and largely a popular player among the footballing public. But Marcelo is not someone who excites me whatsoever for one big reason: he cannot defend. Jurgen Klopp said as much before last season’s Champions League final. And he is right.

Pushing forward, Marcelo is a terrific full-back. His delivery is superb and he has tremendous ability to beat defenders, create chances, and even score goals. But he does not know how to defend. His positioning is awful, he is rarely tested, and when he is he inavraibly fails, and as he gets older, his recovery pace will not be the same get-out-of-jail-free card that it has been in the past.

Add to this that he would not come cheap. both in terms of transfer fee and wages, and that he is 31 and represents absolutely no resela value whatsoever, and you can quickly understand why I feel this would be one of the worst possible signings that Arsenal could make this summer. And to top it all off, he is an arogant sod, and I really struggle to support those kinds of individuals.

So, as I am sure you might be able to guess, I am not a fan of this move. Not one bit. Let’s hope, then, that it is tabloid silliness after all.