In more than a decade with Real Madrid and the Brazilian national team, Marcelo had the pleasure of playing alongside other stars of world football. Now back at Fluminense, the left-back is still impressed by the talent around him. John Kennedy, for instance, has caught his eye.
In a conversation with the PodPah podcast, the 35-year-old player confessed his admiration for the young forward, who scored the goal that gave Tricolor their first Copa Libertadores last year. In fact, he sees similarities between Kennedy and two Brazilian legends: Ronaldo Nazário and Romário.
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“John Kennedy is brilliant, he’s a kid who the ball fits perfectly to. I think I’ve already said that. For me, he’s a combination of Ronaldo and Romário. Let’s… I’m not comparing (their careers), but I think in how he handles the ball… the characteristics… Brother, it’s incredible. If you see the kid’s training, you say: ‘dude, the kid is a mix of both, brother’. It’s amazing. The burst, the strength, he cuts, and goes, shoots with the instep, places it, and everything. It’s amazing. He’s brilliant. I think he’s on the right path, Diniz helps him a lot,” Marcelo said.
🚨🇧🇷🎙️| Marcelo on playing with John Kennedy: {via: @crsxsa}
“John Kennedy is a mix of Ronaldo & Romário. The way he carries the ball, his characteristics… My brother, it's incredible. If you see the kid training, you’ll say: 'man, the kid is a mix of both'. It's bizarre.” pic.twitter.com/88gJhYWuZs
— All Things Brazil™ 🇧🇷 (@SelecaoTalk) April 2, 2024
Kennedy, Fluminense’s hero in the 2023 Libertadores
At 21 years old, Kennedy is not only one of Flu’s great promises, but he can already be considered an idol. Despite his young age, the forward scored a goal that will live forever in the club’s history, sending home a great shot to defeat Boca Juniors in the 2023 Libertadores final at the Maracanã.
Such was the euphoria after that goal that the forward went to celebrate with the fans. That cost him the second yellow card, so he missed the remainder of the match. It didn’t stop him from celebrating the title, but he will miss seeing Fluminense’s debut in the 2024 edition against Alianza Lima.
Anyway, it can be said that it was worth it. 2023 was an unforgettable year for Kennedy, who scored six goals in the league, one in the Club World Cup, and six in the Libertadores, including the one that meant a title.
