Marlon Joins Grêmio But Can’t Face Cruzeiro Without Fee

Grêmio officially unveiled left-back Marlon as their newest signing on Friday, but the defender won’t be eligible to play against parent club Cruzeiro unless a special fee is paid, according to Itatiaia. The clause applies to matchups in the Brazilian league, as well as potential clashes in the Copa do Brasil or Copa Sudamericana.

The 27-year-old joins Grêmio on loan until the end of the year, with an option to make the move permanent. Cruzeiro will reportedly save around R$5 million through the deal, with the Porto Alegre club covering Marlon’s wages and image rights.

Due to Conmebol regulations, Marlon is also ineligible to participate in the current Copa Sudamericana group stage, as the registration window has closed. He could only be added to the squad if Grêmio advances to the playoff or round-of-16 phase.

Grêmio confirmed the signing in an official statement: “Left-back Marlon, who was at Cruzeiro, is the new reinforcement for this season. At 27 years old, with previous stints in Portugal and Turkey, the player signs on loan until the end of the year, with an option for a permanent transfer.”

Marlon arrived in Porto Alegre on Friday morning, went straight to the club’s Luiz Carvalho training center, and passed his medical before signing his contract.

He played seven matches for Cruzeiro this year without scoring and had been under fire from fans due to inconsistent performances. At Grêmio, he will compete for minutes against Lucas Esteves, Viery, Luan Cândido, and Mayk.