Ancelotti makes huge prediction about exit-bound Real Madrid youngster | OneFootball

Rafa Marin was the second Real Madrid defender to leave the club this summer, following in the steps of Nacho Fernandez.

The young centre-back prodigy, who never actually featured for Real Madrid in a competitive game, joined Napoli for a fee of €12 million, which can potentially go up to €22 million.

Real Madrid have a buyback clause worth €25 million, which can be activated by 2026. But the figure would rise up to €35 million by 2027.

Carlo Ancelotti’s big prediction for Rafa Marin

Rafa Marin’s move to Napoli made sense for all parties involved. It was clear that the defender was not part of Carlo Ancelotti’s plans at Real Madrid while Napoli were desperate for a defensive reinforcement.

Despite not giving Marin a chance in the first-team, however, Ancelotti appears to rate the Spaniard quite highly.

According to MARCA, Ancelotti has made a big prediction for the young defensive prodigy, backing him to succeed in Serie A.

Can Rafa Marin prove himself at Napoli? (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

When Real Madrid were negotiating with Napoli, Antonio Conte called Ancelotti to know more about the player.

Without much hesitation, Ancelotti told Conte that Rafa will become one of the strongest centre-backs in the near future.

Ancelotti’s trust in Rafa Marin’s capabilities could go a long way in boosting his confidence as he gears up for a new chapter in his career.

An option for Real Madrid in the future?

Needless to say, Rafa Marin’s success at Napoli could be hugely beneficial to Real Madrid as they hold a buyback clause in the player’s contract.

However, it must be noted that Napoli can increase the valuation of the release clause if they have an additional €10 million. Even so, Marin’s release clause would go up to a maximum of €70 million.

For now, Real Madrid will monitor Marin’s progress closely, as he looks to make an impact in Serie A.