Serie A giants Napoli are reportedly interested in signing 22-year-old Spanish defender Rafa Marin from Real Madrid in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Rafa Marin is the subject of interest from Napoli. The Serie A giants are keen on bolstering their defensive unit in the summer transfer window. However, Real Madrid will unlikely part ways with the 22-year-old academy graduate in the coming weeks.
Rafa Marin and his wait for his Real Madrid bow
Rafa Marin has had to bide his time since graduating from Real Madrid’s fabled La Fabrica division a few years ago. A native of Guadajoz, the Spaniard has been with Real Madrid since 2016 and was a regular for the reserve side for a few years before embarking on a loan move to Deportivo Alaves last summer.
The 22-year-old has been a mainstay at the back for the Basque outfit, racking up over 2,500 minutes of game time in 34 appearances across all competitions this season. However, Alaves will unlikely complete a permanent move for Marin, who features in Carlo Ancelotti’s plans for Real Madrid heading into the 2024/25 season.
Meanwhile, the Spanish defender has been a target for several well-known clubs across Europe in the last few years. Recent reports have linked Marin with Bayer Leverkusen, with Xabi Alonso eager to use his connections at Real Madrid. In addition, the academy graduate has emerged as a target for Napoli.
Will Napoli sign Marin?
Napoli sold Kim Min-jae to Bayern Munich last summer, and the South Korean defender’s exit has severely impacted the team’s defensive output. So, the Serie A giants are scouring the market for a centre-back heading into the summer transfer window, with several candidates, including Radu Dragusin, emerging on their radar.
However, Rafa Marin is also a viable target for Napoli, with the Partenopei keen on signing the 22-year-old in the summer transfer window. However, a move will unlikely see the light of day, with Real Madrid not interested in a sale.
With Nacho expected to leave his boyhood club as a free agent in the summer transfer window, Carlo Ancelotti will replace the veteran Spaniard with his compatriot. So, the 22-year-old academy graduate will unlikely leave Real Madrid in the summer transfer window.
