According to reports, this was not a singular incidence. According to people close to the team, Marcelo's return to Brazil has been more of a personality conflict than a homecoming. According to rumours, Marcelo's colleagues at Fluminense have not taken well to his commanding presence. Insiders claim that his reputation inside the squad was beginning to deteriorate due to issues with ego and a supposedly "too-knowing" attitude.

Marcelo and Fluminense had a romantic and aspirational relationship. He returned to Brazil with great expectations following periods with Real Madrid, where he won an incredible 25 trophies, and a brief term with Olympiakos in Greece.

Indeed, his name was just inscribed at Fluminense's Xerém training facility, commemorating his accomplishments and a symbolic return to his youth.

A reported dispute with manager Mano Menezes has abruptly ended Marcelo's stint at Fluminense, leading to rumours of ego conflicts and friction among teammates. Will this be the last chapter?

I have never seen anything similar in elite football.
Fluminense manager Menezes ready to sub on Marcelo, giving him a tactical talk, to which Marcelo seems saying no.

Menezes gets furious pushing him back on the bench and doesn’t sub him on anymore pic.twitter.com/ortw0nissD

— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) November 2, 2024

There are now concerns regarding Marcelo's impact and demeanour in the locker room after his tenure at Fluminense ended abruptly. In search of a spectacular ending in Brazil, the 36-year-old, who is well-known for his dazzling 15-year career with Real Madrid, returned to his boyhood club. But apparently, things have taken an unforeseen turn, leading to a contract termination and growing dissatisfaction.

Both Marcelo and Fluminense, however, thought it was time to part ways "by mutual agreement," as the official statement released on Saturday made plain. Fluminense thanked Marcelo for his legacy and said they had "institutional and affective ties" to their former idol, emphasising his contribution to previous triumphs. However, the conflict with Menezes and the hostility with colleagues point to more serious problems that legacy cannot resolve.

Vi algumas pessoas sugerindo mosaico do Thiago Silva, mas eu acho obrigação ter o Marcelo no mosaico, merece igualmente.

São dois moleques de Xerém que ganharam o mundo e voltaram pra casa. O que acham desse mosaico?

Quem espera sempre alcança... pic.twitter.com/SdKPtKfqzL

— Duende do Flu (@duendedoflu) May 8, 2024

Marcelo's future is undetermined at this time. Although his stint at Real Madrid has made him a beloved figure in football, it is unclear what he will do next. Is a coaching position or possibly a return to European football in his future?

Whatever he decides, his tenure at Fluminense will always be a complex period of his career, full of pride, expectation, and, in the end, a quick demise that nobody anticipated.

One question remains as everyone watches Marcelo's next move: Was this just an unfortunate clash of strong personalities, or did Marcelo's ego really get in the way?