Legendary Brazilian full-backs Dani Alves and Marcelo are both free agents this summer following their departures from Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively.
Barca did not extend the short-term contract of Alves – who returned to the Camp Nou in January - even though the veteran right-back was hoping to stay at the club while Marcelo said his goodbyes to Real Madrid at the end of the campaign.
However, the nature of their departures has drawn two sharply contrasting reactions. Alves has accused Barca of "not caring" about those who made history for the club as he criticised the manner of his exit as Marcelo was given a sensational send-off by Madrid.
Marcelo enjoyed one last goodbye with the club this week as he was at the centre of a 300-strong gathering at Zuma, one of the most fashionable and top restaurants in the Spanish capital.
The event was attended by a multitude of football personalities, actors and musicians. Whilst it was not an official send-off from the club, they were aware of Marcelo's intentions as he wished to say his final farewells.
Marcelo said of his exit from Madrid: "I don't feel like a legend. I am a person that enjoys every moment. I had the luck of being captain and lifting the cup before my goodbye. Already the last match was a mini-goodbye but now I can't say goodbye better than with my fifth Champions League. It has closed a beautiful cycle."
The veteran Brazilian has spent 16 years at the Santiago Bernabeu and last month sat alongside club president Florentino Perez at a special press conference organised for his departure.
Have Your Say! Were Barcelona wrong not to renew the contract of Dani Alves? Tell us what you think here.
Marcelo's glittering career in the Spanish capital saw him win 25 trophies – more than any other player in the club's history after he surpassed the previous record held by club legend Paco Gento, who won 23 trophies with Los Blancos.
Not only did Marcelo break the record, he also became the first non-Spanish player to captain Real Madrid to the league title and the Champions League crown. The Brazilian assumed the leadership role at the start of the season after Sergio Ramos left to join Paris Saint-Germain.
Yet Alves can also be classified as a Barcelona club legend, and whilst his exit was not entirely comparable – returning after a five-and-a-half-year absence – it was not conducted in the same manner. The veteran right-back was not made aware he would be leaving the club until after the end of the season, and so could not be given a second send-off by fans.
Speaking to The Guardian, the Brazilian lamented: "The only thing I didn't like was how my departure was handled." He then went on to add: "This club has sinned in recent years. Barcelona doesn't care about the people who made history for the club. As a Barca fan, I would like Barcelona to do things differently."
Both Alves and Marcelo are now free agents and are on the lookout for their next clubs, with their future destinations remaining unclear. Yet the manner of their summer exits struck two different tones.
