Real agree deal for Brazil defender Marcelo
MADRID -- Real Madrid have agreed a deal to sign Fluminense's Brazil fullback Marcelo, club president Ramon Calderon said on Tuesday.
"He is an important signing for us. He is a young player who will inject some freshness into the side and is part of our plan to bring younger players into the squad," Calderon was quoted as saying on sports daily Marca's Web site.
The 18-year-old international is reported to have signed until 2013 and could play the rest of this season in the club's youth team Real Madrid Castilla, who compete in the second division, to aid his transition to European football.
He will take a medical and could be presented on Wednesday.
Marcelo is seen as a long-term replacement for Roberto Carlos, and has many similar characteristics in that he is very quick and likes to join the attack.
He scored on his international debut in Brazil's 2-0 win over Wales at the beginning of September, and becomes the sixth Brazilian in Real's squad.
"Roberto Carlos is very happy and Marcelo is coming to replace him when he allows him to," added Calderon.
Media reports put the fee for the player at between six and nine million euros which would take Real's spending on defenders since 2004 to almost 100 million euros.
That money was spent on players such as Argentine Walter Samuel, Englishman Jonathan Woodgate, Brazilian Cicinho, Italian Fabio Cannavaro and Spain's Sergio Ramos.
