Real Madrid News
Real Madrid in advanced talks with newly-promoted La Liga club to loan out youngster
Real Madrid defender Rafa Marin could be on his way to newly-promoted club Deportivo Alaves, with the two clubs in advanced talks over a loan deal, reports Mario Cortegana of The Athletic.
Marin is a product of Real Madrid’s youth academy and has grown into a steady performer for the club’s Castilla outfit over the past couple of seasons.
The 21-year-old was a key member of the team that came close to earning promotion to La Liga 2, only to falter at the final stage against Eldense.
Marin has trained with the Real Madrid first team on several occasions but has never played for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
Rafa Marin to leave Real Madrid on loan
Marin will now have to wait for his chance to make his senior debut for Los Blancos as he is now on his way out of the club, albeit on a loan deal.
There had been talk of the 21-year-old being sold by Real Madrid with a buyback option included or the possibility of selling only 50% of his rights like they have done with some of their other young players this summer.
However, the club have decided to renew his contract and loan him out for a season instead, with the belief that he will return to become the fourth-choice centre-back next year.
As such, Real Madrid are set to renew Marin’s contract, which expires next year, until the summer of 2026 before he can be shipped off on loan.
The Merengues are in advanced talks with Deportivo Alaves for Marin, with the newly-promoted club’s director Sergio Fernandez and head coach Luis Garcia both pushing to complete the deal as soon as possible.
The move will be a good one for Marin as he will gain some much-needed first-team experience which will hold him in good stead once he returns to Real Madrid next year.
Real Madrid have identified the midfield department as a key area of the squad that needs strengthening next year.
Having failed to sign Rodri this past summer, the Merengues understand that a major signing is necessary in the position.
Several names have already been linked as potential targets for the Spanish capital club, one of whom happens to be AFC Bournemouth rising star Alex Scott.
Indeed, Real Madrid have scouted the England international this season and are continuing to closely monitor his development in the Premier League.
However, competition for the 23-year-old midfielder’s services is already heating up.
AC Milan eye Alex Scott
Indeed, according to Tutto Mercato (h/t AS), Italian giants AC Milan have set their sights on Scott to replace Real Madrid legend Luka Modric next season.
Modric, at 41, is entering the final phase of his career and his contract with the Rossoneri stands to expire at the end of the ongoing campaign.
As such, the Serie A heavyweights will need to rope in a replacement and have seemingly identified Scott, who is also on Real Madrid’s radar, as an option.
Apart from AC Milan, even Chelsea and Liverpool have also shown interest in the 23-year-old England star, and might even be willing to make a move for him in January.
This complicates the situation for Real Madrid, who would ideally wait until the summer of 2027 to reinforce their midfield unit.
€50 million for Scott?
Furthermore, the report states that Scott is valued by Bournemouth at around €50 million, a fee that could be an issue for AC Milan.
That figure, however, should not pose a challenge for Real Madrid. Nonetheless, the increasing competition for the 23-year-old’s services could drive up the price further, making things complicated.
For now, though, Real Madrid’s interest in Scott has been limited to scouting and monitoring his progress and compiling reports on him.
Whether it translates into a formal approach and offer in the summer or in January itself remains to be seen.
