Real Madrid give the green light to former academy defender’s move to La Liga club | OneFootball

Real Madrid have been smart with how they have handled Rafa Marin’s situation in recent years and have always ensured to maintain some degree of control over his future.

After all, he is seen as one of the best centre-backs to graduate from their academy in recent years, and Los Blancos, understandably, have wished to have some leverage over him.

The player left for Napoli in July 2024 for a reported fee of close to €12 million. His time at the club appeared close to an end when he was on the verge of a departure on loan in January, but Antonio Conte opted to keep him in the end and went on to win the league.

Now, MARCA relays that the player is set for a return to Spain and that Real Madrid see no harm in sanctioning the move of their former player.

Moving to Villarreal

As relayed by the Spanish outlet, Villarreal manager Marcelino is looking to bolster his squad before the UEFA Champions League season and has thus asked the club to sign Marin from Napoli.

The fee involved for the loan will be €1 million and Villarreal will have a non-mandatory purchase clause of €15 million to activate at the end of the deal.

Rafa Marin to return to Spain. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

The limiting step in the entire procedure was the green light from Real Madrid for they had the right of first refusal on the player.

With Los Blancos opting not to sign him now, they have given the green light to his move to Villarreal.

Florentino Perez and Co. still have buyback clauses active on the defender – set at €25 million for 2026 and €35 million for 2027.

Those figures could even have been doubled had Napoli paid out a €10 million fee earlier which they did not.

Now, Real Madrid must hope that Villarreal do not use their purchase clause on the player next summer if they intend to call Marin back home. After all, their buyback clauses are only valid as long as Marin is contractually bound to Napoli.