In the 2023 summer transfer window, Real Madrid saw many young prospects from their Castilla youth ranks depart, with Rafa Marin joining Deportivo Alaves on loan.
As the season’s summit is now in sight, Marin has proven himself a crucial asset for Alaves.
The young centre-back has become a mainstay for his loan side, pivotal in guiding them to an 11th-place finish in La Liga following promotion.
And due to Marin’s incredible strides, Real Madrid are eager to have him back within their ranks next season.
Indeed, according to El Larguero numerous La Liga teams have enquired about Rafa Marin from Real Madrid.
However, the response from Real Madrid is that Rafa Marin is staying for now and he is not available for transfer.
The 21-year-old’s potential and contributions are valued by Real Madrid, who view him as a crucial component of their plans for the near and possibly far future.
Considering the Merengues are keen on shoring up their defence, especially with Nacho Fernandez likely to hit the exit door this summer, it is likely that the club will place faith in their homegrown talent.
This recent development also presents a hurdle for Serie A powerhouse AC Milan, who were reportedly eyeing Marin as a possible acquisition to strengthen their defense.
Rafa Marin is not only expected to rejoin Real Madrid, but he has also won the right to play for Spain in the Olympics in Paris this year.
The fact that Marin was chosen for Spain’s Under-21 squad in five of the six Euro qualifiers shows how highly coach Santi Denia values his presence.