Marcelo Leite Periera aka Marcelinho is a Brazilian footballer who recently signed for Hyderabad FC in the Indian Super League. Having started his professional career with Spanish club Atlético Madrid B, Marcelinho has played for Brazilian, Spanish, Greek, Emirati and Indian clubs. He amassed more than 100 caps with Greek club Skoda Xanthi. His Major Club career success came in India at ISL as he finished 2016 Indian Super League season as the league's top scorer and won the Golden Boot with Delhi Dynamos FC. Then he went on to play for FC Pune City in the Indian Super League in 2017-18 and 2018-19 season.
Club career
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Marcelinho started his senior professional career at the age of 18 with the reserves of Atlético Madrid, followed by a stint with Getafe CF B. In 2008, he signed a contract with Kalamata. After a few months there he signed a contract with Skoda Xanthi and he stayed there for four years and then he signed with Baniyas in UAE, for a fee of €600,000. At Skoda Xanthi, Marcelinho played 115 games in all competitions. In March 2014 Sky Sport reported that Marcelinho had signed a one-year contract with Catania. Eventually, on 12 July 2014, it was officially announced that Marcelinho signed a one-year contract with Catania on a free transfer. On 18 January 2015, he signed with Atromitos F.C. on a 1½-year contract. On 30 July 2015, in a game for UEFA Europa Leaguepreliminary round against AIK Solna, he was the man of the match having one assist, a goal and a drawn penalty, in a victorious 3–1 away win. On 4 February 2016, he mutually agreed with the club to rescind his contract. On 25 August 2016, Marcelinho switched to the Indian Super League with Delhi Dynamos FC. Head coach Gianluca Zambrotta said that his experience would help the team. On 6 October, he made his first team debut, scoring a brace in a 3–1 victory against Chennaiyin FC. On 27 November, he scored a hat-trick in a 5–1 routing of FC Goa. He also scored found the net in a 2–1 victory against Kerala Blasters in the semi-finals. He ended the season as the league's top scorer with 10 goals and subsequently won the Golden Boot. On 16 January 2017, Marcelinho signed with Brazilian top tier club Avaí FC. In August, he returned to the Indian Super League with FC Pune City. On 26 November, he scored a brace in a 4–1 victory against ATK. On 30 December, he scored a hat-trick against NorthEast United FC as his side won by 5–0.
Style of play
Though a left winger, Marcelinho can also play on the right wing. Since his youth days, he has been playing as a winger or as a second striker. In an interview, he said that he considered "a wide position to be his favourite on the pitch" because it gave him space to run.
