Real Madrid already know their first summer transfer - and it's not Mbappe

Tom Weber

• 26 Mar 2024 15:35 GMT
• 3 min read

Rafa Marin's return to Real Madrid from his Alaves loan will be like a new signing, according to the Spanish press.

The 21-year-old is getting his first taste of senior football this season after joining Basque outfit Deportivo Alaves last summer. The young centre-back has been virtually ever-present for his loan side and continues to catch the eye.

Indeed, so impressive have been Marin's performances that he was linked with a switch to Bayern Munich at one point in recent weeks, but it seems unlikely that Real Madrid will allow the homegrown to leave. On the contrary, he will become a major part of Carlo Ancelotti's squad next season, according to AS.

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It is claimed that a place in Los Blancos' squad has already been reserved for him and he will become particularly important should captain Nacho Fernandez not extend his contract. Marin will provide a much-needed injection of youth to Real's backline, with Nacho, Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba all on the wrong side of 30.

Real Madrid's first summer 'signing'

Marin's return will alleviate Real Madrid's need to add another centre-back to their squad should Nacho indeed decide to call it a day on his time in the Spanish capital. A sign of the trust placed in the youngster is the fact that Los Blancos extended his contract before sending him out on loan.

The young defender will also buck an unwelcome trend at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid have been heavily criticised for their underutilisation of academy talent this season, but Marin's integration into the first team will silence the detractors.

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In a sense, Marin will be a completely new signing for Los Blancos, the first arrival of what is bound to be a transformative window. Kylian Mbappe and Alphonso Davies are expected to follow suit.