The staggering cost of Marcelo’s private flight to Chelsea

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:39 CDT
• 4 min read

Real Madrid are being forced to fork out a staggering €20,000 so that Marcelo can travel to London on a private jet for the Champions League game against Chelsea.

It was revealed earlier this week that Marcelo would be unable to travel to London for the semi-final second leg as he had been summoned for electoral duties in the Madrid elections.

Regional elections in Madrid are being held on Tuesday, with the Blancos set to face Chelsea the following day at Stamford Bridge.

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Due to Coronavirus regulations, it was reported that Marcelo would have been unable to then travel abroad after working on this Madrid assembly election.

However, according to Diario AS, Marcelo will be able to play after all.

But it will come at a heft cost as Madrid will pay €20,000 for Marcelo’s private flight, enabling the Brazilian to bypass Covid-19 restrictions.

The costs involved are said to have infuriated Madrid, who are already having to watch their finances after being hit hard economically by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Will Mendy be fit for Chelsea match?

Marcelo is no longer a first-team player for Real Madrid, having lost his left-back slot to Ferland Mendy.

But Mendy is currently sidelined by injury and is a doubt for the second leg in west London.

Marcelo filled in for Mendy in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea in the first leg on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old delivered the cross that eventually led to Karim Benzema’s equaliser and he will fill in for Mendy again in the return if the Frenchman fails to recover.

Before that game, Madrid host Osasuna on Saturday in La Liga.

The Blacos currently find themselves in second position with five games remaining.

In one of the hottest title races in history in the Primera Division, only three points separate the top four.

Atletico are first with 73 points, while Real Madrid (with 71 points) are above Barcelona on head-to-head. Sevilla are fourth with 70 points.