Fire opt to buy out Marcelo’s contract

Brazilian defender Marcelo is on the way out of Chicago.

The Fire have opted to buy out Marcelo’s contract, which will allow him to move to another club. The move clears an international roster spot and around $775,000 in salary cap space, which the team can now use on another player.

Marcelo didn’t really make the splash Chicago Fire fans were hoping when he signed in December 2018. He appeared in 16 MLS games last season, and once in the U.S. Open Cup. The move allows him to go compete for playing time at another club, and rumors online in recent days have teams in Brazil and Portugal interested in his services.

Each MLS team has the option to exercise one off-season buyout, so the Fire have now used theirs.

Does this mean a big international signing is imminent? Stay tuned, Fire fans.