Rafa Marin is reportedly on the verge of joining Serie A club Napoli on a deal worth €12 million, with Real Madrid inserting multiple buyback clauses into the agreement.
According to reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Rafa Marin will complete his move to Napoli this summer. The Serie A giants will cough up €12 million to sign the 22-year-old Real Madrid academy graduate in the summer transfer window. Meanwhile, Los Blancos will retain multiple buyback clauses in the agreement, with the structure of the deal being intriguing.
Rafa Marin and his Real Madrid journey
Rafa Marin is one of the brightest young prospects to graduate from the fabled La Fabrica division at Real Madrid. A native of Guadajoz, the Spaniard passed through the academies at three clubs before joining Real Madrid in 2016. He rapidly progressed through the ranks at La Fabrica before becoming a regular for Real Madrid Castilla.
However, Marin could not establish a foothold in the first-team squad at Real Madrid and gained first-team experience during his spell with Deportivo Alaves in the 2023/24 season. The 22-year-old academy graduate turned out 35 times for the Basque outfit, amassing over 2,500 minutes of game time.
Meanwhile, Rafa Marin’s exploits have not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs across Europe. Real Madrid briefly considered integrating the Spanish centre-back into the first-team squad before deciding to sell him in the summer transfer window. His next destination is Serie A, with Napoli on the verge of securing his services.
Serie A move on the horizon?
Napoli’s interest in Rafa Marin is understandable. The Serie A giants have been scouring the market for a centre-back heading into the summer transfer window. Kim Min-jae’s move to Bayern Munich last summer created a gaping hole in the defensive unit, prompting the Partenopei to look for a long-term replacement.
Marin thus emerged as a viable target, with Napoli closing in on securing his services in the summer transfer window. The 22-year-old Spaniard will undergo his medical checks on Monday before completing the move worth €12 million. Meanwhile, Real Madrid will retain multiple buyback clauses.
The reigning La Liga champions can bring Marin back to the Santiago Bernabeu for €25 million in 2026 and €35 million in 2027. Meanwhile, Napoli can double those values by coughing up an additional €10 million next year to Real Madrid.
