Real Madrid News
Real Madrid starlet prioritising contract renewal with club amid Chelsea, Man City interest
Real Madrid defender Rafa Marin is a wanted man, to say the very least. The 20-year-old, who is yet to make a senior appearance for the team, is being looked upon by several European elites, among which are Chelsea and Manchester City, according to GOL (h/t Madrid Xtra).
Marin, 20, has less than 18 months left on his current Real Madrid contract and for now, the parties involved are yet to enter the talks over a potential renewal. Given the situation at hand, the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City are looking to pounce on the given opportunity.
For now, however, despite the evident interest, Spanish publication AS (ht/Madrid Xtra) has claimed that the defender’s priority is to renew his deal with Real Madrid, although he also wants the team to present him with a project that would involve him as a key component.
Chelsea, above all, are looking to make a move in the summer itself. They know it is going to be difficult for Marin to break into Real Madrid’s first team and with only 18 months left in his current deal, he might be available for a knockdown price this summer.
This is because if renewal talks fail with Madrid, the team will want to cash in on him in the summer rather than lose him for free next year.
Chelsea have been extensively scouting Marin over the last couple of months and he could be available for a fee of around £5 to £10 million. But, with Manchester City also entering the race, things could get tricky for the Blues.
Meanwhile, apart from the aforementioned Premier League duo, the likes of Juventus and RB Leipzig are also thought to be in the race to sign Marin.
It will be up to Real Madrid now to ensure that one of the most promising young defenders to have come through their academy remains at the club beyond this summer.
Real Madrid are looking towards a heavy splurge in the coming summer transfer window. After all, they do not even have another option given the sheer number of player departures already finalized.
Los Blancos have lost the services of Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, and Eden Hazard over the past week. While three of the four players predominantly featured on the bench, their presence in the squad gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side much-needed depth and a cushion of sorts.
The forward unit is, thus, the most prioritized department ahead of the transfer window. However, pieces are beginning to fall apart on other fronts and could potentially put the club in a difficult situation.
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus are eyeing Lucas Vazquez and hope to sign him in the coming month. Contacts between the two parties have begun and the transfer fee discussed appears to be around the €6 million to €8 million ballpark given that he has just one year left on his contract.
The player, for his part, is willing to sign for the Italian giants given his relative lack of minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu. At 31 years of age, he understandably does not want to play a second-fiddle role.
Vasquez played part in 23 of Real Madrid’s 38 La Liga games last season, starting only on 12 occasions. Even in his few appearances, he averaged a mere 50 minutes per game.
The veteran completed the season with four goals and an assist to his name. Further, he averaged five defensive actions and a key pass in every game and feels hard done by his limited role.
Vazquez’s departure would place the club in a tricky situation as it would leave Real Madrid with only Dani Carvajal as a natural right-back option. Nacho Fernandez could, in theory, serve as the backup but a new signing for the position cannot be ruled out.
