Troubled Marcelinho signs with Trabzonspor

Hertha Berlin's Marcelinho (Brazil) reacts after scoring against Bayer 04 Leverkusen during their Bundesliga football match at Berlin's Olympiastadion in May 2006. Marcelinho, notorious for his lack of discipline has signed a three-year contract with Turkish first division side Trabzonspor.

Controversial Brazilian midfielder Marcelinho, notorious for his lack of discipline has signed a three-year contract with Turkish first division side Trabzonspor.

The transfer follows a five-year spell with Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin marked by the 31-year-old's erratic behaviour and his failure to join the team on time after his summer vacation.

"We have been talking with Hertha Berlin for the past two months about signing Marcelinho and our efforts finally bore fruit a week ago," Trabzonspor official Emin Karaman said in a statement posted on the club's website on Sunday.

"We are excited to have such a star in Trabzonspor."

The financial details of the contract were not disclosed, but Turkish newspapers said Marcelinho would be paid about one million euros (1.2 million dollars) a year.

Trabzonspor agreed to pay Hertha about two million euros (2.5 million dollars) for the transfer to go ahead, reports said.

Marcelinho, whose real name is Marcelo dos Santos, often clashed with the Hertha Berlin management for returning home during the season without informing team officials.

He was recently forced to apologise 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.