Real Madrid Transfer News: Marcelo a No-Show at Training Amid Juventus Rumours

Marcelo didn't report for pre-season training with Real Madrid on Friday amid rumours the Brazilian could join Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus. 

According to AS, compatriot Casemiro joined the rest of the squad on Saturday after returning from his post-World Cup holidays, but there was no sign of Marcelo.

Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t AS) previously reported Marcelo could follow Ronaldo from the Spanish capital to Turin.

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AS' report specified Marcelo was supposed to show up and gave no reason for his absence. Real have less than two weeks to prepare for the UEFA Super Cup against rivals Atletico Madrid, which takes place in Estonia on August 15.

Rumours of Ronaldo's desire to continue playing with Marcelo have emerged since the Portuguese made the switch to Italy, and Paris Saint-Germain's supposed interest in Juventus left-back Alex Sandro has led to even more speculation:

Such a move can't be completely ruled out, as the Bianconeri have shown they are in win-now mode by swapping talented defender Mattia Caldara for Leonardo Bonucci in a controversial move. By doing so, they sacrificed long-term upside for the chance to win the UEFA Champions League with Ronaldo in the next few seasons.

A move for Marcelo would be a complicated one, however, as the left-back position happens to be the one spot where Real don't have a talented prospect waiting in the wings.

Los Blancos are working hard at getting younger and adding talent, but they have almost no depth at left-back and could be set to lose Theo Hernandez in the coming days:

There's no reason for Real to part with Marcelo for anything less than a gargantuan transfer fee, and after splashing the cash on Ronaldo, Juventus lack the funds to do so. Selling Sandro to PSG would help, but even then, it likely wouldn't be enough to land arguably the best left-back in the world.

Juventus haven't shied away from the big moves this summer, however, and with the return of Bonucci, it seems there's nothing they can't pull off.