New Faces, TMW column on players making their Serie A debut
Not only Buongiorno, Napoli’s defense this summer also welcomed Rafa Marine. A versatile centre-back, who can play as a two-man defence, both in the centre-right and centre-left, but who can also act as a left-handed wing-back or as a false fourth in a four-man defence. In other words: the Spaniard born in 2002 is a full-back with greater coverage who, thanks to his versatility, allows his coach to set up a three-man defence and defend both with four and five men.
Son of the quarry of Sevilla, he then spent five seasons at Real Madrid where Rafael Martin Zamora was born, raised and educated. His debut with Castilla was a success, given that with the second team of the merengues has collected over 60 appearances, and in Spain he is spoken of as a new Ronald Araujo, the Barcelona centre-back. In terms of physique and characteristics, even if with the opposite foot, he actually seems like that player. And it is no coincidence, therefore, that De Laurentiis paid around 12 million euros for him, leaving Real the right to buy back.
RAFA MARIN’S CARD
Name: Rafa Marine
Date of birth: May 19, 2022
Nationality: Spanish
Role: defender
Where and how it comes from: from Real Madrid on a permanent basis