Real Madrid plot January move for Serie A star as Carlo Ancelotti seeks defensive reinforcement: Reports

According to Spanish media outlet Fichajes.net, Real Madrid are considering a January move for Napoli defender Rafa Marin. Los Blancos are looking to reinforce their defensive department ahead of the second half of the season.

Marin, 22, left Real Madrid in the summer for Napoli. The Spain U-21 International is a product of Madrid's Castilla but never featured for the senior team before his exit. After a loan spell with Deportivo Alaves in the 2023-24 season, Marin was allowed to leave permanently.

However, he has struggled for game minutes under Antonio Conte at the Serie A outfit, making no league appearance yet. He has only two Italian Cup outings to his belt.

Fichajes.net reports that Real Madrid could now make a move for their former defender amid his struggles in Italy and their defensive crisis. Carlo Ancelotti's side has been hit with multiple long-term defensive injuries this season, leaving the manager with limited options at the back.

Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal are out for the season after rupturing their anterior cruciate ligament. David Alaba has not played since sustaining a similar injury last December and is not expected to return until after the new year.

Ancelotti has been forced to deploy emergency options like AurelienTchouameni and Lucas Vasquez as a makeshift centre-back and right-back, respectively. The club might now consider a loan move for Marin as a short-term solution to their undermanned defense.

The report adds that Villarreal are also interested in bringing Marin back to LaLiga. However, a return to his former club could look preferable to the youngster who will be eager to prove his worth with Los Blancos.

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Real Madrid looking to sign former left-back Theo Hernandez - Reports

Real Madrid are also considering a move for AC Milan defender Theo Hernandez who formerly played for the club before joining the Serie A giants. Their interest in the Frenchman comes after it seems unlikely that they will get the services of Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies.

Los Blancos had made Davies a primary target, but personal terms and Bayern's unwillingness to sell the Canadian has seen the deal stall. They will now look to Hernandez who made 23 appearances in the club's colour between 2017 and 2019. The 27-year-old is valued at €50 million by Transfermrkt.