Real Madrid are reportedly mulling over re-signing 22-year-old Spanish defender Rafa Marin from Serie A club Napoli in the 2025 summer transfer window.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Rafa Marin is the subject of interest from Real Madrid. The reigning La Liga champions are scouring the market for a centre-back ahead of the 2025 summer transfer window. So, the 22-year-old Napoli defender has emerged as a target for Los Blancos.
Rafa Marin and his frustrations
Rafa Marin continues to bide his time to find a stable footing at the first-team level. A native of Guadajoz, the Spaniard spent his formative years in his homeland, passing through the academies at four clubs before graduating from the fabled La Fabrica division at Real Madrid.
However, the 22-year-old could not establish a foothold in the first-team squad at Real Madrid, gaining experience at the senior level during his season-long loan spell with Deportivo Alaves in the 2023/24 season. Marin ended his spell with Real Madrid in the summer transfer window, joining Napoli in a deal worth €12 million.
Napoli first showed interest in the Spanish defender in May before completing a move a few weeks later. Marin would have hoped to end his search for regular game time in the first-team squad at a permanent club after joining the Partenopei. However, he remains on the fringes after managing only 90 minutes of game time in one outing thus far this season.
Homecoming on the cards?
With game time coming at a premium for Rafa Martin at SSC Napoli, a departure from the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium might be on the cards in the 2025 summer transfer window. That might come with Real Madrid re-signing the Spaniard from the Serie A club.
The reigning La Liga champions are scouring the market for a centre-back ahead of the 2025 summer transfer window, with William Saliba the top target. However, the Frenchman wants to remain at Arsenal for the foreseeable future, forcing Real Madrid to identify alternatives.
Marin has thus emerged as a viable target for Real Madrid, even though he is not at the same level as Saliba. It will be interesting to see if the Merengues approach Napoli regarding a move for the 22-year-old Spanish defender next year.
