Marcelo Vieira may have hung up his boots professionally, but he remains firmly plugged into the football conversation. Between his growing presence in content creation and his hands-on role in Gerard Piqué’s Kings League, the former Real Madrid left back continues to offer opinions that make news, especially when they involve Barça and Madrid.
In a recent appearance on the YouTube channel of DjMaRiiO, Marcelo was asked a familiar but always loaded question: “if he could sign one FC Barcelona player for Real Madrid, who would it be?”
“Right now I would sign Pedri for Madrid. He has little things that feel very Madrid,” Marcelo said. He acknowledged that “everyone would say Lamine,” but added, “I think Pedri would be the better signing.”
The comments came at a time when Pedri is preparing to return to full rhythm after overcoming another injury setback. Despite those interruptions, the Canary Islander remains one of Barcelona’s most valued players, admired across Spain for his control of tempo, intelligence in tight spaces, and ability to influence games without dominating headlines.
Marcelo’s remarks sparked debate among fans, particularly because Lamine Yamal is widely viewed as Barcelona’s breakout star and one of the most exciting young attackers in Europe. Still, Marcelo framed his choice around balance and midfield control rather than attacking flair, a profile many believe would fit naturally into a Real Madrid side now led by Xabi Alonso.
Beyond the Barça-Madrid discussion, the interview also reflected Marcelo’s evolving post-playing career. In recent months, he has become a regular figure in the Kings League ecosystem, serving as president of Skull FC alongside content creator Plex. Unlike other high-profile presidents, Marcelo has gone a step further by returning to the pitch himself.
According to the league’s official announcement, Marcelo made his Kings League debut in late October, playing for Skull FC in a match against Rayo de Barcelona. The decision reportedly came as the team struggled to adapt to the unique format of the competition, prompting Marcelo to provide both leadership and quality on the field.
