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 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.