Marcelo’s feud with Lyon fans rumbles on as supporters unveil crass banner saying ‘keep your fingers for your wife’ after defender responded to ‘donkey banner’ with rude hand gesture
- Marcelo ‘told team-mates he wants to leave Lyon’ after abuse from fans
- Brazilian defender ‘fears for his and family’s safety’ after being targeted
- A Lyon fan invaded the pitch with a banner describing him as a donkey
- The Brazilian was sanctioned for making an obscene gesture at supporters
- Fans unveiled a crass banner aimed at Marcelo during Sunday’s home defeat
Lyon defender Marcelo’s feud with a section of the club’s own fans sank to a new low when a crass banner was unveiled during Sunday’s home defeat by Rennes.
The Brazilian had been named among the substitutes despite being sanctioned for aiming a middle-finger gesture at Lyon supporters after being the victim of a donkey banner paraded by the club’s ultras.
And a banner saying ‘keep your fingers for your wife’ was unveiled by fans during Lyon’s Ligue 1 clash against Rennes, which the visitors won 1-0.
Lyon fans unveiled a crass banner aimed at Marcelo during Sunday’s home defeat by Rennes
The Brazilian defender responded with an angry gesture after fans singled him out for abuse
The night went from bad to worse as Lyon lost Memphis Depay and Jeff Reine-Adelaide to knee injuries for the rest of the season.
Both suffered cruciate knee ligament injuries.
French radio station RMC reported that Marcelo has ‘told his team-mates he wants to leave the club’ and that he is ‘very worried for the safety of his family’.
It came after a Lyon supporter ran onto the pitch holding a banner with a donkey on it and the message ‘Marcelo leave the club’ after the Champions League match against RB Leipzig.
Lyon defender Marcelo was confronted by his own fans and a banner labelling him a ‘donkey’
The Brazilian has made it clear he wishes to leave the club and fears for his family’s safety
Lyon had fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with the Germans to secure their passage to the knockout stages of the competition.
But the mood soured after the final whistle when the fan evaded security to run onto the pitch with his derogatory banner.
Marcelo’s team-mate Memphis Depay went over to the pitch invader and tried to grab the banner before a scuffle ensued.
That led to other Lyon Ultras running to the pitchside before stewards and players intervened to defuse the situation.
Marcelo’s team-mate Memphis Depay ran over to try and grab the donkey banner from the fan
Now, according to RMC, the incident has confirmed to Marcelo that he wants to leave Lyon as soon as possible for the good of his family and two children.
He reportedly expressed his desire to leave to team-mates in the dressing room post-match on Tuesday night and is concerned for his safety in the city.
Marcelo had been previously targeted by a fan when the players returned to France following a 3-1 Champions League defeat to Benfica.
He is contracted to Lyon until 2021, but RMC report the club’s board will let him look for a new club when the January window opens.
It is expected that Lyon will allow Marcelo to look for a new club in the January transfer window