Marcelo extends contract with Real Madrid until 2018

Real Madrid's left-back Marcelo has extended his contract with the club, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.



Marcelo's previous contract would expire in 2015, but it has now been extended until June 2018.



The Spanish club also increased Marcelo's net wages from 2.3 million Euros a year to 4 million Euros a year.



Marcelo joined Real Madrid from Fluminense in 2007, and has also been a regular starter at Brazil's national team. He is regarded in Spain as Roberto Carlos' successor.



Real Madrid's president Florentino Pérez regards him a key player, he told Marca: "we have the best left-back in the world, so we couldn't just let him go".



Despite his talent, his place in Real Madrid's first team has been threatened lately by Portuguese player Fábio Coentrão.



Marcelo has also been struggling with injuries this season, which has allowed Brazil's manager Scolari to give Atlético de Madrid's left-back Filipe chances in the national team starting line-up.