Real Madrid legend Marcelo has been accused of 'astonishing' behaviour during his ill-fated spell at Fluminense, just days after his contract was terminated by the club.
The 36-year-old left his boyhood side on Saturday following a heated touchline argument with head coach Mano Menezes during the club's 2-2 draw with Gremio.
Named as a substitute for the clash, Marcelo was preparing to be brought on in the second-half when orders appeared to change.
The player was seen shaking his head at the coach's instructions before things spilled over into conflict, with Menezes forcibly pushing Marcelo back to the bench, where he remained for the rest of the tie.
The club issued a statement on Saturday afternoon confirming that his contract had been terminated 'by mutual agreement between parties'.
But a new report from Brazil has claimed that Marcelo's behaviour since his arrival at Fluminense may have contributed to the dissolution of their partnership.
As per ESPN Brazil, Marcelo is believed to have had difficult relationships not just with his team-mates and coaching staff in Rio de Janeiro, but with Fluminense employees too.
'I spoke with people close to Fluminense's day-to-day life,' journalist Rafael Marques alleged in the outlet before mentioning 'astonishing' issues that the player had with employees and 'relationship problems with other players.
'He had problems with basically everyone.'
Marcelo is alleged to have even told young players that they didn't have to 'worry about physical training' if they had natural talent.
'Marcelo's main problem was his inappropriate behaviour with the club's management, as he always competed in a veiled way,' Marques added.
'First with (former manager Fernando) Diniz, then with (former manager) Marcao, and then with Mano. Marcelo's actions almost always occurred behind the scenes, they were never direct, so he became a difficult focus to manage.'
Reporting by Globo Esporte appeared to add fuel to the allegations, with the outlet adding that the decision to terminate the player's contract had in part hinged on his level of commitment.
The player is believed to have been publicly praised by the club's hierarchy, with criticism of Marcelo taking place behind closed doors.
Marcelo's performance had been under scrutiny, as well as his dedication to the team - with the defender failing to travel with the club to ties outside Rio on a number of occasions throughout 2024.
In the wake of news of his contract termination and roiling speculation over his conduct at the club, Marcelo thought to stamp out allegations of disquiet with a social media post shared on Sunday.
'I have had a magnificent time at this club,' Marcelo shared. 'Almost two years ago I decided to return, motivated by the sentimental connection I have with the team.
'I was part of unforgettable moments, such as winning the first Copa Libertadores in the history of the club. My name will be immortalized in the renovated Marcelo Vieira Stadium, the place where our Xerem boys train every day.
'I want to thank my wife @claricealves, my children @liamalvesv and @enzoalvesv, for always being by my side and for all the sacrifices they made for me. I am proud of what I have achieved and I thank everyone who made this unique moment, especially the president, the employees and my teammates. I also thank the tricolors for their support.'
In a somewhat pointed note, however, the ex-Los Blancos star added: 'I will always carry Fluminense in my heart. The truth, like the Sun, will always rise.'