Hired in early 2009 by Atletico Mineiro as an unknown prospect, the Minas Gerais club soon off-loaded the right back for disciplinary problems.
However since joining Fluminense, Mariano’s career has taken a new direction, as the right back played a key role in helping the Tricolor claim their third Serie A championship in 2010.
In that same season, he was voted the best right-back of the Brazilian Championship and has continued to attract interest from clubs in Europe ever since.
French side, Bordeaux, were interested in signing Mariano in last season’s January transfer window but the player insisted he wanted to stay at Fluminense and play in the Copa Libertadores.
A year on, the twenty five year olds representatives, Think Ball, claim they have this time received an official offer from Bordeaux and the Rio de Janeiro based club admit they might have to sell there star right back.
”We have been advised of the proposal, but we have not seen it,” said Fluminense’s vice president of football, Sandro Limda. ”There is a chance of losing the player”.
Fluminense are powerless to stop the deal from going through as they only own 10% of Mariano’s economic rights.
