Real Madrid has extended Marcelo's contract, which previously expired in 2015, for a further three years, until the same month of 2018. The left-back is considered as a key player by the club, and the aim was to thrash out the details of the contract renewal whilst the Brazilian was unable to play due to a fractured bone in his right foot.

As well as the extension of the contract term, his pay packet has also seen a significant improvement. With his previous contract, Marcelo received a net sum of €2.3 million per annum, but this has been bumped up to a tidy €4 million per season, after tax.

Madrid wanted to reward one of the team's pillars of strength, who is also one of the club's most liked players, not just by fans, but also by 'El Presidente' himself, Florentino Pérez. Real's big boss has never hidden his affection for the cheery Brazilian: "We've got the best left-back in the world", is what they say in the director's box at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Marcelo, who'll be 25 on 12th May, joined Real Madrid in the winter transfer window of the 2006-07 season, when he was brought in as the successor to Roberto Carlos.

With the full-back's contract renewal, Real now has seven of its defenders contractually tied down until at least June of 2016.

As such, the Brazilian joins Di María as a long-term fixture for the club, since last year the Argentine also extended his contract with the 'Blancos' till 2018.

However, the contract that's still has to be sorted out is Cristiano Ronaldo's. And keeping hold of him is one of the club's main objectives.