Real Madrid academy graduate Rafa Marin is reportedly on the verge of joining Serie A giants Napoli in a deal worth €7 million.
According to a report by Goal Italia, Rafa Marin is closing in on joining Napoli in the summer transfer window. The Serie A giants are ready to cough up a transfer fee worth €7 million to secure the services of the 22-year-old. Meanwhile, the Real Madrid academy graduate will sign a five-year contract running until June 30, 2029.
Rafa Marin and his Real Madrid journey
Rafa Marin is one of the brightest young prospects to graduate from Real Madrid’s fabled La Fabrica division in the last few years. The Merengues do not have a rich recent history of paving a smooth pathway to first-team football for their academy graduates. The Spaniard has also fallen victim to that, with only Nico Paz getting some first-team minutes.
The 22-year-old was exceptional for Real Madrid Castilla for a few years before Los Blancos loaned him to Deportivo Alaves last summer. Marin was top-notch for the Basque outfit in the 2023/24 season, taking no time to become a mainstay at the back while turning out 35 times across all competitions and amassing over 2,500 minutes of game time.
Marin’s impressive performances for Deportivo Alaves led to rumours that Real Madrid might integrate him into the first-team squad. Meanwhile, recent reports have linked the Spanish centre-back with several high-profile clubs, including Bayer Leverkusen. However, his next destination might be Napoli.
Serie A move beckons
Napoli’s interest in Rafa Marin is understandable. The Partenopei sold Kim Min-jae to Bayern Munich last summer, with the South Korean international leaving a gaping hole in the defensive unit with his departure. So, the Serie A giants have scoured the market for a centre-back ahead of the summer transfer window.
Several candidates have emerged on Napoli’s radar in the last few months, with Marin being a viable target. The latest update has revealed that the Serie A giants are closing in on signing the Real Madrid academy graduate.
Goal Italia has revealed that Aurelio De Laurentiis has sanctioned a deal worth €7 million for the 22-year-old Spanish defender. Meanwhile, Marin will sign a five-year contract, running until June 30, 2029 to seal his move to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium and his long association with Real Madrid.
