New Napoli defender Rafa Marin gave his first press conference and explained what motivated his move to Naples. The Spanish player began by highlighting his decision to play in Italy: “I wanted Napoli and Serie A. It is the best choice for me and my family.”
On His Idol
“My role model is Sergio Ramos for his grit and behavior off the field. Right now, I’m playing as a right center-back, but I’m versatile and can play in any defensive role.”
On Raul Albiol
“He’s a great player. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to talk to him, although I’ve faced him as an opponent. I consider him a great professional.”
On His Preferred Position
“I have no preferences; it will be up to the coach to decide where to use me. All Napoli players are good, they have different qualities, and they are always available. I feel comfortable as a right center-back where the coach is trying me, but I can also play on the left and in the center without any problem.”
On Antonio Conte’s Instructions
“We are working more on movements along the line. Conte insists on keeping it high, no more than 30 meters between attack and defense.”
On His Qualities
“I am a strong defender in the area and quite strong in one-on-one situations. I have qualities in ball possession, and the coach is asking me to bring out more offensive characteristics, and I am working hard on it.”
On Physical Preparation
“At the beginning, I struggled a bit with the physical effort because the preparation here is tougher. We are adapting to this different preparation, working hard to reach the final goal.”
On Real Madrid’s Buyback Clause
“The buyback clause from Real? The only thing that motivates me is defending Napoli’s jersey. I never talked about Napoli with Ancelotti.”
On Earning a Starting Spot
“We are working a lot defensively. I think that to win, victory comes from good defense. The starting spot doesn’t depend on me; I have to be ready when an opportunity comes. An anecdote? The other night at dinner, we all had to sing. At first, I was embarrassed, but then it was very fun.”
On Real Madrid’s Influence
“Real teaches you a value that is the cult of work from a young age. Results don’t depend on luck but on work. I carry this with me and the past season spent at Alaves.”
On Differences Between Alaves and Napoli
“There are many differences. I want to learn a lot from coach Conte because it will be very useful in the future. The way of defending at Alaves is very different; their goal was always survival. Here, the coach asks us to be more offensive and aggressive.”
