Spanish football giant Real Madrid has announced a player transfer ahead of the upcoming 2024/2025 season via its social media accounts and official website.
"Real Madrid C. F. and SSC Napoli have reached an agreement regarding the transfer of our player Rafa Marin," the statement read.
"Rafa Marin joined Real Madrid in 2016 at the age of 14. Since then, he played in all the youth ranks of our academy until he spent two seasons with Castilla. During the 2023-2024 season, he was on loan at Deportivo Alaves."
"Real Madrid wishes him and his family all the best of luck in this new stage of his career," the correspondence concluded.
News of the developing move was reported on by transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano at the turn of the week.
The Italian explained that the Spaniard would switch his country's capital for Naples as Madrid received a $13 million (€12 million) fee for the 22-year-old who was all set to undergo a medical.
The sale has now been confirmed by Los Blancos, and it has an interesting breakdown to say the least.
First of all, Madrid has made sure to include a $27.1 million (€25 million) buy back clause which can be exercised in 2026.
This is a wise decision if Marin kicks on and starts to fulfil his potential in Italy, and it was previously seen with right back Dani Carvajal who was reared by the La Fabrica academy but cut his teeth at Bundesliga holders Bayer Leverkusen ahead of President Florentino Perez bringing the Spain international home to the Bernabeu.
Here's where it starts to get tricky, though. If Madrid doesn't buy Marin back in 2026, the clause then rises to $37.9 million (€35 million) in 2027.
But if Napoli pays an additional $10.8 million (€10 million) next year, those clauses double to $54.2 million (€50 million) in 2026 and $75.8 million (€70 million) in 2027.
Madrid's offloading of Marin comes at a time when it has a shortage of centre backs and is currently trying to land teenager Leny Yoro from Lille.
AS reports that Madrid has lodged a bid of around $37.8 million (€35 million), but a French journalist tweeted that his club has already accepted a €50 million proposal from Manchester United for the defender.