After announcing the departure of Jesus Vallejo on loan earlier today, Real Madrid are set to seal the temporary exit of yet another defender imminently.

Indeed, according to journalist Sergio Santos, Real Madrid starlet Rafa Marin is close to joining Real Betis on a loan deal. The 21-year-old centre-half will do so after signing a new contract with the Merengues.

Marin is a product of the Real Madrid academy, having been at the club since 2016, when he moved from the Sevilla youth setup.

The young centre-half has made steady progress through the youth ranks at the Spanish capital outfit and has been a permanent fixture at the heart of the defence for Real Madrid Castilla under Raul Gonzalez over the past couple of years.

Marin has trained with the senior players under Carlo Ancelotti and has been called up to the matchday squad, but has not made his first-team debut yet.

With stalwarts like Eder Militao, David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger, and Nacho occupying the first-team centre-back slots, there is simply no space for Marin in Ancelotti’s plans at the moment.

As such, an exit has been on the cards for Marin with no shortage of interest either as clubs from Germany, Spain, England, Italy, and the Netherlands have been following the youngster.

Real Madrid are very well aware of the 21-year-old’s potential and know that his progression should not stop, for which he needs to play regularly. As such, they are now ready to loan him out but will do so after renewing his contract as his current deal expires in 2024.

The report goes on to add that Real Madrid are negotiating a deal with Betis that would also include a buy option for Los Verdiblancos, where the youngster will be one of the main four centre-backs in the senior squad.