Troubled Marcelinho set to join Trabzonspor

Controversial Brazilian midfielder Marcelinho, who was forced to issue an apology to Hertha Berlin after returning from vacation 10 days late, seen here in April 2006, will be off-loaded to Turkish side Trabzonspor.

Controversial Brazilian midfielder Marcelinho, who was forced to issue an apology to Hertha Berlin after returning from vacation 10 days late, will be off-loaded to Turkish side Trabzonspor.

The 31-year-old, whose real name is Marcelo dos Santos, is scheduled to fly to the Black Sea city of Trabzon later Saturday to officially sign a contract, the club said in a brief statement on its website.

The statement did not give details of the contract.

Apart from Trabzonspor, Russia's CSKA Moscow, Spain's Barcelona and Olympiakos in Greece were all believed to be tracking the midfielder whose five-year spell in Germany has been dogged by controversy

Marcelinho was recently forced to apologize to his Hertha team mates, officials and fans after extending his holidays in Brazil and turning up to pre-season training 10 days late.

In April last year, he was involved in a fight with German international defender Arne Friedrich at half-time during a Bundesliga match.

Capped five times for Brazil, Marcelinho joined Hertha after an unremarkable season with French first division club Marseille in 2000/01.